In 2020, Pulaski County 4-H participated in the KY 4-H Country Ham Project for the very first time.  Pulaski County was invited to participate in Adair County so that Pulaski’s ham may hang in their ham house.  In that first year, there were 17 4-H age youth and one adult that participated from Pulaski County.  Because of COVID, youth were required to write an essay instead of present a speech at the KY State Fair.  Pulaski County received 16 blue ribbons and 1 red ribbon from the KSF.  After the KSF, youth were invited to sell their state fair ham at our Pulaski County Youth Livestock Show and Sale in September.  Seven youth chose to sell their hams.  Hams were auctioned off and brought in a grand total of $1,480.  

All throughout 2020, I had been approached by parents of participants and volunteers about Pulaski County having their own ham house for future years.  The decision was made to move forward with purchasing a ham house by our 4-H Council after the success we had for the 2020 Project Year.  

The plan was set into motion after receiving funds from our Extension District Board, Pulaski County Farm Bureau, and the Pulaski County Ag Development Board to purchase Pulaski County 4-H’s very own Country Ham House.  The plan was to have the house ready for the 2021 Project Year and on January 18^th 2021, 68 hams were placed into cure and are being stored in the ham house here in Pulaski County.  

Because Pulaski County 4-H now as their ham house, there is no need to limit the amount of participants in the project.  The participation level from 2020 to 2021 increased to 28 4-H youth, 6 Cloverbuds and 3 adults. (An increase of over 100% in total participants from the previous year.)  Participants include returning project member, new members, younger siblings, parents, 4-H volunteers and even Extension employees.  Our Curing Day may have been filled with masks and social distancing, but it was still a successful day of fellowship and positive youth development.

All 4-H youth will receive their education hours by attending our Country Ham Project Club led by 3 certified livestock volunteers.  New to the project this year are extra requirements that 4-H youth must complete in order to be eligible to sell their ham in the Pulaski County Youth Livestock Show and Sale in September.  The Pulaski County 4-H Council voted on a checklist of the requirements that include 1, participating in the county 4-H communications contest, 2 attend a Sales, Marketing and Communications Workshop and 3, create a display board for Show and Sale showcasing their country ham project work over the 9 months.  

This is an ongoing project.