Two years ago, our County Ag Development Council set aside $15,000 to invest into a youth cost share program through KADF that is called Youth Ag Incentives Program (YAIP). During our first year of administration we had 14 kids complete the project. Those kids were awarded a total of $7847.51 of cost share funds. Each youth was eligable for $750.00 of reimbursement for their project with an average of $560.54 being dispersed. Those 14 individuals invested a total of $16,557.89 into their projects which included purchasing livestock (heifers, cow/calf pairs, goats, lambs, ewes, chickens), built working pens, chicken coops, greenhouses and vegetable gardens. 

Last year our council met again. After looking at the numbers of successful projects, they elected to set aside $20,000 for the YAIP program to be implemented again. We have just concluded the program and I am happy to report another successful administration of the program.  This year we had 17 youth complete their projects and were awarded $17,133.61 of cost share dollars. Each youth was eligible for  $1052.63 of reimbursement for their project. each student on average received $1007.86. The 17 students who completed their cost share program projects invested a total of $38,297.54. The projects that they completed included greenhouses, raised beds for mum production, livestock (bred heifers, lambs, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens), chicken coops & accessories, and corral materials to gather and sort their livestock. 

While this program has been a benefit to the kids by making their projects more affordable, so otherwise would not have gotten to participate in owning livestock at such a young age. We know that their are several life lessons learned through completing projects such as these. Youth who have completed these projects have learned the value of hard work, experienced patience, enhanced their work ethics and increased knowledge in the field related to their projects. Additionally they have became more involved in 4-H where they have learned about record keeping, business plans and management practice choices. The youth have also increased their ability to positively advocate for the agriculture industry. Each year they showcase their projects on display at our County Showcase (formerly Farm and Home Night). We have had older generations of agriculturalist in our community promote this program because they have saw the benefits of hands on learning with these youth and their projects.