In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, food insecurity in our community increased and the 14 Nelson County 4-H Market-to-Market Ham Club members recognized an opportunity to give back. Members donated a total of three club hams--one country ham to a Habitat for Humanity family of 5 and two hams to Communicare, a residential behavioral health clinic. Members of the 4-H club cure two country hams each. Many years, including 2020, extra hams that the club auctions at the end of the year for fundraising that is returned to the members in an effort to teach them about marketing their product.

The ham curing process requires members to start with a raw or "green" ham, trim it down, apply a salt, pepper, and sugar mixture, wrap it in paper, put it in a ham sock, and hang it in the ham barn. The ham barn is a well ventilated and monitored environment that allows the hams to lose moisture and become the finished country ham product that we are all familiar with. Throughout the club year, members visit a farm and a meat processing facility to learn more about where their food comes from. At the end of the club year, members compete on the state level with their hams and with speeches that help them reflect on the curing process and history behind it.

Donating this ham to a family from our community has helped our 4-H youth see the impact that they can make. It shows how valuable their hard work has been and that age does not limit your ability to help others. 4-H members showed an increased sense of civic engagement and serving others through the donation of these hams.