Success Stories

Reviving Area-Wide Horse Judging for West Kentucky 4-H Youth

Author: Calyn Colston

Major Program: Agriculture

The Issue:Before the pandemic, West Kentucky had a vibrant network of horse clubs that were regularly engaged in regional and state 4-H Horse activities. However, since COVID-19, these connections and opportunities had diminished. As restrictions eased, local horse clubs began to grow again, and the need to reconnect and support the increasing involvement of 4-H youth in state-level horse activities became clear. West Kentucky had not hosted any area-wide programming since before the pandemic, a

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KY Jr Livestock Expo at Western Rivers

Author: Calyn Colston

Major Program: Agriculture

Describe the Issue or Situation:Youth involved in agriculture programs such as FFA and 4-H in Western Kentucky faced limited access to regional livestock competitions that could qualify them for state-level events. In addition to the need for competitive opportunities, there was also a growing interest in creating experiences that foster life skills such as public speaking, decision-making, and career exploration in agriculture. Many of these youth had never visited a university campus, making i

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