Renewing farm tags benefits Hardin County 4-H

Marla Stillwell and Bonnie Jolly

Hardin County 4-H members, Orry and Briann Williams with several FFA members from Hardin County pose with Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer, Hardin County Clerk Kenny Tabb, Kentucky 4-H Foundation Director Keith Rogers and Hardin County 4-H Agent Marla Stillwell at a recent presentation made to Hardin County 4-H and FFA to promote the Farm Tag License Plate Program.

Hardin County 4-H members Orry Williams, Jenna Meredith, Briann Williams and Alison Ray with Hardin County Clerk Kenny Tabb.

County extension agents for 4-H youth development

Hardin County 4-H has an opportunity to raise funds for the local 4-H program and statewide 4-H programs through the farm license plate voluntary donation program.

Beginning in February 2012, Commissioner of Agriculture James R. Comer announced all farm license plate voluntary donations would be split evenly among 4-H, FFA and the Kentucky Proud program.

In March, farmers can make a voluntary donation of $10 when renewing their farm license plates at the county clerk’s office. With more than 160,000 farm plates bought or renewed each year in Kentucky, the commissioner’s action could generate up to $1.6 million annually.

“Kentucky 4-H has been given a tremendous opportunity by Commissioner Comer to raise significant funds to support 4-H,” said Keith Rogers, executive director of the Kentucky 4-H Foundation. “The voluntary donations from the Kentucky farm license plate renewals will help Kentucky 4-H give young people around the Commonwealth opportunities that develop leadership, citizenship, and life skills.”

More than 229,000 youth are involved in Kentucky’s 4-H program. Kentucky ranks in top 10 in several 4-H enrollment categories nationwide. All 120 counties in Kentucky have 4-H programs, and all counties will receive a portion of the support from this fund raising opportunity.

Last year the 4-H statewide shared total was $121,708.64. The Kentucky 4-H Foundation splits the donations between the county where the funds originated and the 4-H Foundation.

That means part of the farm plate donations stay in Hardin County funding programs and activities that teach youth about, leadership, citizenship, science and technology, communications, public speaking, agriculture and more.

However, the program needs more participation. In 2012, more than two-thirds of Kentuckians who bought or renewed farm plates opted out of making a donation. Sadly, some of the lowest rates of participation were in agriculture-dependent rural counties.

Hardin County 4-H’s share for 2012 was $1,965 and benefited programs such as 4-H summer camp, public speaking contests, project day camps and various workshops. This year Hardin County has a great opportunity to increase financial support for our local 4-H Council, clubs and programs by encouraging farmers in Hardin County to make the donation. Making the voluntary $10 donation is an excellent opportunity for our agricultural community to support the youth of our community and help fund the programs that can make a lasting difference in their lives.

4-H youth are a living, breathing, culture-changing revolution for doing the right thing, breaking through obstacles and pushing our country forward by making a measurable difference right where they live. For information on 4-H Youth Development in Hardin County, contact the Hardin County Extension Office at 765-4121 or visit  www.hardin4h.org.