Louisville, Kentucky – (May 29, 2009) –  A new initiative launched earlier this month 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 2009 Heifer Initaitive awards funds to help youth purchase heifers. The winners of the program – three in all – will be selected based on an essay that asks the question “Why I would like to have my own beef heifer.” 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 $1,000 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 are due by December 16, 2009 to 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 at various livestock fairs this summer.

 

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.”

 

Farm Credit Services of Mid-America is a $15.4 billion financial services cooperative serving over 85,000 farmers, agribusinesses and rural residents in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee. The association provides loans for all farm and rural living purposes including real estate, operating equipment and housing and related services such as crop and life insurance, and vehicle, equipment and building leases. For more information about Farm Credit, call 1-800-444-FARM or visit them on the web at www.e-farmcredit.com.

 

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