The Garrard County Extension Service has sponsored a local tobacco cutting contest for 36 years. The contest is one of the communities' largets events of the year with over 400 people attending.  Tobacco production has declined dramaticaly since the buyout in the year 2000 but tobacco is still a major source of income for farmers in Garrard County. The Cutting Contest is an community effort supportted by local businesses and individuals. The contest showcases the hard labor involved in harvesting tobacco.  Old and young people come to watch and gaze at the contestants while they cut their way accross the tobacco patch.  The crowd consist of older farmers reminincing about the old days and non-farmers amazed at the hand labor it takes to put tobacco in the barn. The contest also is supported by the local health departments and the hospital. Individuals that attend the contest are also encouraged to take advantage of health screenings that are offered by the health care providers that set up at the contest. Farmers are notoriuos for not making regular viaits to the doctor for routine heath checks. The contest is a way of bringing the health care to the farmer. farmers can get screened for skin cancer, blood sugar levels and recieve flu shots. The providers report that there are a good number of farmers taking advantage of this oppurtunity to improve their health.