The 4-H Country Ham Project teaches youth about food production and Kentucky’s rich history with country ham. Marion County is home to the Marion County Country Ham Days, so the project has a deeper connection with our kids and community. 

24 kids signed up to participate in the 2024 Country Ham Project. We have a smaller ham house so this was the maximum number of participants.  

Each year during the week of Ham Days, youth in the project can choose to enter their ham in the judging for the Champion Ham that will be sold on the main stage right before the Pigasus Parade.  The 2^nd annual Marion County 4-H Country Ham Auction took place on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at Ham Days in the Citizens Bank Community Room because of inclement weather. In previous years only the Grand Champion ham was sold.  Any youth participating in the 4-H Country Ham Project had the opportunity to sale one of their project hams at auction. Twenty-one country hams cured by 4-H member were auctioned off.  4-H'ers started curing their hams back in January.  Judging took place on Monday and Addilynn Bartley was chosen as the Grand Champion Ham.  The auction total today with add ons from other organizations was $7,840.  All winning bids will be split between the 4-H members and the 4-H Country Project.  80% is given to the 4-H members while the remaining 20% goes to the 4-H Country Ham Project. Youth are encouraged to recruit bidders for their ham and are working on their "Ham Talk" to educate potential buyers about the ham curing process and are learning valuable communication skills.

Marion County 4-H member Amelia Mattingly was the Overall Champion in her age division, Junior Champion non-smoked ham age division at the 2024 State Fair. Adam Blanford was the 1^st place winner for his speech and overall in his non-smoked age division. Collin Rakes was the 1^st place winner for his ham and 3^rd place overall in his non-smoked age division. Kaylen Bartley was the 1^st place winner for her ham, 3^rd place in her speech and overall in her non-smoked age division. Kinley Willett was the 3rd place winner for her speech and 3^rd overall in her non-smoked age division. Anna Mattingly was the 2nd place winner for her speech and overall in her non-smoked age division. Pressley Downs was the 2nd place winner for her ham in her non-smoked age division.