ON any given morning, as the first hush of sunlight settles over the quiet streets, Alicia Fytte Butts steps outside with her signature soft smile—steady, warm, and grounding.

It’s a simple ritual, but one that steadies her spirit. Before the rush of work, before the responsibilities of motherhood gather around her like eager little hands, she takes a moment to breathe in the cool air and reconnect with the earth that has always felt like home.

In these tender dawn minutes, with her two young sons stirring inside, Alicia prepares herself; mind, heart, and purpose, for another day shaping Guyana’s livestock sector in her own gentle, determined way.

Raised in Canefield, Berbice, Alicia’s childhood unfolded between open fields, animals that always seemed to find her, and a curiosity that never seemed to rest.

She was the girl who nursed every stray, who asked questions no one else thought to ask, who saw science not as a subject, but as a language through which she could understand life.

That curiosity led her first to the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), and later to the University of Guyana (UG), where she completed her degree in General Agriculture.

Even the programme she did not complete—Veterinary Public Health—played its part, stitching together the foundations that shaped the focused scholar she would become.

Her academic path eventually led her to a Master’s in Animal Nutrition and even a certification in Bee Nutrition from the University of Florida—quiet milestones that hinted at her later influence.

Her personal life, however, is where Alicia’s true strength is most visible. She is the devoted mother of two energetic boys, one of whom is on the autism spectrum.

Their home is filled with small triumphs—new words, new routines, a good day at school, a successful potty-training breakthrough.

Alicia and her husband celebrate each one. She carries those victories with her, tucked close like a pulse of inspiration, giving her the resilience she brings to her work every single day.

Her colleagues often see the warm, patient guidance she offers to farmers and staff—but few know that it comes from the same deep well of tenderness she draws on at home.

A defining moment in her career arrived in 2017 when Alicia presented her research on black pepper as a growth promoter in broiler diets.

Her presentation was calm, confident, and deeply thoughtful—traits that immediately caught the attention of Dr Dwight Walrond, then Deputy CEO of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority.

There was something almost effortless in the way Alicia bridged science and simplicity, making her findings accessible without ever diluting their value.

Dr Walrond recognised her potential immediately, and soon Alicia found herself stepping into a role at GLDA—an opportunity that would open doors she once only quietly hoped for.

From the very beginning, Alicia proved herself.

She joined the Giant King Grass Yield Project, meticulously analysing cutting frequencies and nutritive values. Her work was precise, but what stood out even more was her presence—calm, polite, unfailingly supportive.

Whether she was testing forage samples or helping a farmer understand feed formulation, Alicia brought with her a warmth that made people feel seen and valued.

Her training sessions across Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, and 10 are remembered not just for the knowledge she shared, but for the way she shared it: gently, patiently, and always with a kind smile.

Her compassion extended beyond routine duties. During the devastating 2019 and 2021 floods, Alicia stepped in to support emergency feed distribution, helping safeguard livestock in Regions Five and Six.

Her proudest achievement and transformative period, however, remains her work at the Animal Nutrition Laboratory, which she manages.

Established in 2020, the lab tests everything from forage, milk, honey, silage, hay, mixed and compound feed, vegetal protein meals, corn and by-products, to blood meal.

By catching potential issues early, Alicia and her team help prevent problems before they reach farmers—a contribution that quietly supports food security across the country.

She leads her small team with patience, respect, and humility: Lab Technician Aaliya George and Support Staff Stephanie Waterman are as much partners in the mission as employees.

“Each result represents support for a farmer, a household, a community. It’s rewarding when we can provide solutions,” she says quietly. “That is what keeps us going.”

Another highlight of her career came during the Agri Forum 2023, where she and her team brought the innovative “Farm Ville” project to life.

The interactive showcase captivated attendees and highlighted GLDA’s commitment to modernising agriculture in Guyana. Yet Alicia’s creativity extends beyond science.

She has helped design eye-catching displays and decorations for events such as Honey Fest, GuyExpo, Ruminant Expo, and TVET Expo, blending artistry and science to make agriculture approachable, exciting, and inspiring. “It’s rewarding to see people engage with agriculture in a new way,” she says.

Her dedication was unmistakable during Honey Fest 2025. Though she was assigned a specific role, Alicia became the person who filled every gap—helping with scientific reviews, organising displays, coordinating logistics, lending creative insight, and smoothing edges wherever needed. Always present, always smiling, always ensuring excellence.

Her colleagues say the event carried her fingerprints throughout its success, even though she would never claim the credit.

Through all of this, humility remains her anchor. She speaks often of her mentors—John Clowes and Carmen Bacchus—who shaped her understanding of science and service.

She is deeply grateful to her parents, Stanford and Kim Lewis Fyffe, whose love and discipline shaped the woman she is today.

And she holds immense appreciation for GLDA’s CEO, Dr Walrond, whose flexibility has allowed her to balance leadership with the delicate responsibilities of raising a special-needs child.

At the Animal Nutrition Lab, Alicia works closely with Lab Technician Aaliya George and Support Staff Stephanie Waterman.

Together, their small but mighty team embodies the blend of precision and compassion needed to support sustainable livestock development in Guyana. Their work strengthens food security, empowers farmers, and quietly drives the agricultural sector forward.

Yet if you were to meet Alicia in the corridor of the GLDA or out in the field, she would never speak of accomplishments.

She would talk instead about the farmers, the team, or whatever task lay ahead. She is the colleague with the warm greeting, the leader who guides gently but firmly, the professional who never hesitates to help. And she is the mother whose resilience inspires everyone fortunate enough to know her.

In a sector often defined by loud voices and hard hands, Alicia proves that leadership can be soft-spoken, thoughtful, and deeply human.

Her work is quiet but profound. Her impact is steady but transformative. And her story—woven with grace, grit, and love—is a reminder that some of the most powerful contributions come from those who never seek the spotlight.

In the heart of Guyana’s agricultural landscape, Alicia stands as a testament to the gentle strength driving the country forward—one farmer, one solution, one early morning at a time.