Creating the next generation of ag-aware citizens has been stressed as a priority for McCracken County 4-H. According to the Statistical Atlas, approximately 0.7% of those employed in McCracken County are employed in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industries. In response, McCracken County 4-H conducts the 4-H Country Ham Project annually. This project offers an opportunity for youth to engage in livestock education through the course of a program year as they dry cure two country hams. The hams are cured from January to August. They are cleaned twice and taken to the Kentucky State Fair in August where they are judged. 

In addition, participating youth are tasked with writing and delivering a 3- 5 minute speech on one of two prompted topics, dependent on their age. While their hams are judged, at the Kentucky State Fair, the youth give their speeches to volunteer judges and their speech scores are factored into an overall total score. Participants during the 2019 project reported several noticeable outcomes, as 100% of the respondents remarked that they had learned something new, 100% reported that because of their participation in the project they feel more comfortable giving a speech in front of others and 100% reported that they learned something new about the field of agriculture. By exposing these youth, many of whom are unable to participate in other traditional livestock programs, McCracken County 4-H is helping to create a generation of agricultural aware citizens with connections to traditions of the past. 

An eleven-year-old student joined the Kentucky 4-H country ham Project in McCracken County in February 2019. This first time competitor had 131 participants in his age category. He was nervous, but he had 20+ hours of preparation by the McCracken County 4-H Agent and Club Volunteer. 

“The second-place winner of 2007 country ham for smoked hams is…”

“The second-place winner of 2007 speeches is…”

“The second-place Overall winner of 2007 is…” He won all three of these titles. He tried something for the first time, poured his heart into it and his hard work payed off. 2nd place overall out of 131.