Kentucky has much to offer in the way of Agriculture. Of Kentucky’s total acreage (25.4 million acres), over 50% (12.9 million acres) is farmland (NASS, 2019). Rowan County is the home to 356 farms operating on 23.6% of land in Rowan County. Kentucky farms produce a variety of agricultural products. The Rowan County Data Profile identified crop and livestock production as major components of the county agriculture production. To increase profits it is important for farms to be efficient and increase yield as well as diversify. It is also important that farm families are able to save money and add to the economy.  

To help address this importance of agriculture in the county, for the second year, the Rowan County Extension District Board has offered the Youth Agriculture Incentive Program through the Ag Development Council whom received funding from the Kentucky Agriculture Development Fund within the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy. The Rowan County Extension District Board took on the application and processing of funds for the program and was approved for $20,000. 

The 19 applicants each received around $1,050, which is a small increase from previous year. Around 50% of the previous year’s participants re-applied for 2019. Investment areas that youth participated in included small animal, large animal, fencing and showmanship.