Success StoryCountry Ham Project



Country Ham Project

Author: Crystal Osborne

Planning Unit: Family and Consumer Sciences

Major Program: Food Preservation

Plan of Work: Farmers Market, Home Gardens & Food Preservation

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

In recent years an increased interest in preserving foods like our ancestors did a long time ago has prompted the Owsley County Cooperative Extension Service to offer classes to teach adults and youth to do just that. Country Hams are one of those things that were unique to the Southeast Region of the United States and more specifically to Owsley County but has not been practiced for many years. Owsley County Cooperative Extension Service offered a family class to families wishing to learn the technique of curing a country ham. Twenty-two families have participated in the project over the course of two years. Families consisted of twelve youth and forty-four adults. They learned the process of meat preservation, preservation methods and about ham curing facilities. The families met throughout the year to clean the ham. Through grant funding and the Owsley County Extension District Board we were able to purchase our own ham curing facility. Plans are already in place to continue the project next year. 






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