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Kentucky Heifer Initiative

An initiative launched by the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association and Farm Credit Services of Mid-America will help ensure Kentucky’s youth continue to have a vested interest in the cattle industry.

The 2011 Heifer Initaitive awards funds to help youth purchase heifers. The winners of the program – three in all – will be selected based on the responses to questions such as “If you were a cow, what breed would you be and why?” and “How do you see the drought in Texas affecting the cattle market and cattle industry in Kentucky and surrounding states?”

Joel Oney, regional vice president in central Kentucky, explained that there are three age divisions 1) ages 9-13; 2) ages 14-17 and 3) ages 18-21. One winner will be selected in each division based on the originality from the essay writer. Each winner will receive up to $2,000 to purchase a heifer from a Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association member.

“It’s a great way to support the members of the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association and even more important in creates a good base of youth who could be future members of the association and involved in the cattle industry,” said Oney.

The Heifer Initiative essays must be postmarked by December 23, 2011 and mailed to the the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association at their Lexington office. Copies of the application, with additional instructions and a mailing address, are available online at www.e-farmcredit.com. You can also stop by your local Farm Credit office or look for the application.

Oney encourages youth with an interest in the cattle industry to participate in the program and is proud to have Farm Credit Services help sponsor and promote the initiative. “Each year, we allocate funds to help support projects that advance our stewardship mission to support youth and young farmer groups. This program supports both, in terms of the KCA as well as the youth who are so vital to the future of Kentucky’s farm and cattle industry.”