Last program year, Rowan County 4-H Council made efforts to offer the youth of Rowan County more agriculture opportunities. One of the efforts was to expand the 4-H Country Ham project and that happened with the partnership of Kentucky Farm Bureau. KY Farm Bureau purchased a ham shed for Rowan County 4-H youth to continue to participate and grow the project. This year, Rowan County had nine youth to participate at the Kentucky State Fair and one 4-H’er placed third for her ham in the 12-year-old division. Our goal is to continue to grow the project and allow for the youth to auction their hams and to link the project to entrepreneurship skills. 

In the September 2018 edition of the Kentucky Farm Bureau News, an article was written about the partnership of Rowan County 4-H, Rowan County Farm Bureau and Morehead State University. The county Farm Bureau president said upon hearing about this project, he liked the sound of it and wanted to help in any way that he and the board could. We’ve all got to eat and it’s important we show these young people how to produce that food The manager at the University Farm said MSU is such a part of the community, it was a natural fit to have the ham house placed at the facility. From a community service standpoint, it’s a bonus for the school to have these young people on the farm and be involved in the project with 4-H. 

One of the 4-H’ers stated, “The first year I tried this, I really didn’t know what I was doing but I eventually figured it out. Now I know about applying the seasoning and spices to the ham in the right way and really the whole process which is what our speeches are about. I think after doing this I am a better speaker and I certainly know more about curing hams”.