According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, there are 50,908 acres of land in 308 farms in Carroll County with a total of 17,857 acres harvested.  Cash receipts totaled $5,811,000 in 2012.  Since the 1998 Master Tobacco Settlement Agreement, the pounds of tobacco harvested in Carroll County has decreased over 98% and the importance of diversifying agricultural operations from tobacco to other production areas has been vital.

Supporting local agricultural producers is a high priority of the Carroll County Extension Council and the Carroll County Agricultural Development Council.   Through Tobacco Settlement Dollars, the Carroll County Agricultural Development Council has utilized Carroll County dollars to provide monetary incentives for local farmers to improve their current operations.  In 2018, however, the local Agricultural Development Council decided to extend the reach of that impact to invest some of those dollars ($15,000) in a Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund program called the Youth Agricultural Incentives Program.

The Youth Agricultural Incentives Program (YAIP) was developed to encourage youth to engage in and explore agricultural opportunities.  Investment areas include Agricultural Diversification (greenhouse, horticulture, hydroponics and aquaponics, farm management software, value-added and marketing, and wildlife management), Animal Production (beef, dairy, goat, equine, sheep, rabbit, swine, poultry, bees, livestock barns), Forage and Grain Improvement (seeding), Showmanship (equipment and supplies, tack), Materials necessary for a Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) school project, and the 4-H Country Ham Project.  Each young person can receive up to $1500 for their project on a 50/50 reimbursement basis.  In order to receive funding, each approved applicant must give a presentation to their peers about their project and complete an educational requirement.  In addition, each applicant must development a mentorship with a 4-H/FFA Leader, Extension Agent, School Ag Teacher, or representative from another agricultural organization.  All these requirements improve the overall life skills of the youth through education, accountability, and communication.

The information for this program was first brought to the Carroll County Agricultural Development Council by the Carroll County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources.  After much discussion, the Council communicated with the Carroll County Conservation District, who then submitted an application to administer the program. The Conservation District also serves as the legal entity and administrator for Carroll County Agricultural Investment Program.

Applications for the program became available in October 2018, and thirteen 4-H and FFA members were approved for funding, exceeding the number first anticipated, in the areas of Agricultural Diversification, Animal Production, and Showmanship. Goals of the youth projects included purchasing livestock to show at the county and state fairs, purchasing livestock to build or improve the youth’s herd/flock, beginning egg production, improving existing or building new poultry housing, herb production, and improving equine tack and supplies.

Each recipient presented on their topics at either the Carroll County Extension Office or the FFA Chapter Banquet in Spring 2019, with Agricultural Development Council members, the recipients’ family, mentors, and peers invited to attend.   The Carroll County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources will take the lead in organizing the presentations.

YAIP was a tremendous success for its first year.  The Carroll County Agricultural Development Council set another $15,000 aside for the 2019 Program Year to offer the cost-share program again to continue to support our local youth in agricultural opportunities.