“The practice of curing country hams dates back centuries, long before modern storage methods were available. …people kept their food from spoiling by packing it in a mixture of salt and other spices, and stored it for an extended period… Modern technology allows for other ways of preserving food, the way country hams are cured now is very much the same as it was long ago” Kentucky Farm Bureau News March 2018.

When the Kentucky 4-H Country Ham Project started in 1990 there were less than 40 youth participating. Today there are over 750 4-Her’s from 65 counties involved in the project. Youth gain valuable skills from participation in the Country Ham Project including: learning the process of research, communication and organizational skills, and they also gain valuable technical merit. While Henderson County 4-H is relatively new to the Country Ham Project, past and present 4-H members have jumped on the chance to be a part of such a long standing, Kentucky tradition. 

12 youth from Henderson County started and completed the Country Ham Project. Henderson County represented in such an outstanding way this year at the 2021 Kentucky State Fair. Those wins included 1st and 2nd Smoked Speech winners in two different divisions, two 1st and two 2nd place Smoked Hams in four different divisions, an overall division winner in Smoked and Non smoked, and finally a Senior Overall Champion.