Agriculture
Agriculture & Animal Sciences
Country Ham Project
The Country Ham is distinctive to Kentucky and the Southeast. Hart County 4-H’ers visit Cliffty Farms in Scottsville three times. During these visits they select their hams and learn about the curing process. They complete their project by giving a speech at the Kentucky State Fair. After completing their speech, they are able to take home two country hams to enjoy. Sign ups for the country ham project usually take place in November or December with the project beginning in early spring. The 2025 Country Ham contract can be found here. Contracts are due by Monday, December 9th.
Livestock & Horse Leader Certifications
Volunteers who wish to lead Horse or Livestock clubs must complete a training. Trainings are offered various times of the year in person and on-line. If interested in becoming a volunteer please contact the Extension Office. More information.
Livestock Projects
Livestock projects help youth develop critical life skills such as accepting responsibility, getting along with others, setting goals, decision making and interpersonal skills. More information.
Livestock Judging
Various livestock judging clinics and contests are available throughout the year.
The Kentucky 4-H Livestock Judging Contest and Awards Banquet is usually held during the summer. Kentucky’s contest is one of only a few such state contests in the nation that is an "open invitational" with no team requirement or no limit on participation. More information.
Kentucky 4-H Livestock Skillathon
Livestock Skillathon Contests provide a valuable educational experience for youth. The content of these contests provide a framework for youth to learn a variety of topics related to the production and management of beef cattle, meat goats, sheep, and swine. Participants in these events will learn about different breeds of livestock, external parts of livestock, skeletal anatomy of livestock, feedstuffs used in livestock diets, equipment using in raising and showing livestock and in processing meat, wholesale and retail cuts of meat derived from livestock, expected progeny differences (EPDs), common calculations used to measure animal performance and profitability, judging hay, judging meats, and judging performance classes of livestock. More information
Livestock Quiz Bowl
Livestock quiz bowl is a team event for Seniors & Juniors where they test their knowledge of beef, sheep, swine and meat goats. Students use a buzzer to answer questions and the teams compete in a double elimination format by providing oral answers to questions presented by a moderator. The winning Senior team will represent Kentucky at the National 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl Competition in Louisville, KY. during the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE). More information
Kentucky 4-H Bee Ambassador
The bee ambassador program teaches youth about the importance of honey bees and pollinators. Maintaining honeybee hives in not required. If you are interested in volunteering as a club leader for this program please contact the Extension Office. More information
4-H Dog Program
The Kentucky 4-H Dog Program encourages youth to develop character, self-esteem, discipline, and responsibility. The dog serves as a tool in the growth of each individual. Hart County 4-H does not currently offer a dog club. If you are interested in volunteering to be a dog club leader please contact the Extension Office. Leaders are required to attend a training to become certified. More information
Regional Dog Camps
Regional Dog camps are offered in the spring and offer all 4-H youth the opportunity to learn new skills with or without their dog. Youth do not need to be a member of a dog club to attend.
Horse Club
The Horse Club meets monthly on the first Monday of the month at 6pm at the Hart County Extension Office. The leader is Suzie Scott.
Trail Riding Project
The trail riding project begins on January 1st and ends December 31st of each year. Youth keep records of their trail rides and complete a log. The state winner receives a prize. More information.
Horse Academy
The 4-H Horse Program Horse Academy is designed to give Volunteer Leaders and 4-H’ers a road map to increase their horse knowledge and verify their accomplishments. This is a 5 Level Program that starts at the basics of horsemanship and horse science, and builds upon the individual’s knowledge as the levels increase. The program is designed to take 4-H’ers through a year of lessons, activities, and skills, however, if the 4-H’ers are more advanced, they are allowed to work through the book at their own pace. Once a 4-H’er has completed the workbook and the leader has signed off on the lessons, activities, and skills, the 4-H’er may take the level completion exam under the supervision of extension personnel. After the 4-H’er has taken the exam and has received a score of 70% or higher they will receive recognition that they have completed the level. More information
SOKY 4-H Horse Camp
SOKY KY 4-H Horse Camp is a three day camp usually held in the spring at the WKU Expo Center. Horse Camps offers youth the opportunity to enhance their skills. Youth who do not own a horse may also attend.
Kentucky State 4-H Horse Judging Contest
Kentucky State Horse Contest
State Horse Show More information
State 4-H Horse Advisory Council
The State 4-H Horse Advisory Council is made up of volunteer leaders and youth from all over the state that bring their time and talents together for youth horse programming. Of these delegates, officers are identified to provide leadership for the council and the 4-H Horse Program. More Information
