MERCER COUNTY, Ky. — Dustin Worthington always had a soft spot in his heart for cows. In fact, back in 2000, when he was 17, the answer message on his cell phone said, “I Love Cows.”

At that age and time, Dustin was already working at buying and selling cattle. Whenever, he wasn’t at the farm working on home-school studies he was in his pickup truck and doing business at various stockyards in the area.

After Dustin died in a collision with a tractor-trailer on April 4 that year, his father, Dennis, with help from a close friend, started a special memorial scholarship program. Instead of giving funds to top finishers, the Dustin Worthington “I Love Cows” Essay Contest awards a cow to winning 4-H and FFA members.

The same year Dustin died, two registered beef heifers were donated and given away to farm kids. One winner lived in Mercer County and one was from Boyle County. In May 2002 Dennis Worthington said in an article in Angus Journal, “It (the scholarship program) is my way of introducing Dustin to people.”

Dustin lives on and his legacy will be an opportunity for kids in Kentucky who might not otherwise been able to become involved in farm programs. The contest is open only to 4-H and FFA members.

But, they will have to hurry because this year’s deadline is March 3.

The prize heifers will be awarded to winning entrants in each participating county and to each of two winners in the Kentucky from outside the participating counties. The contest website says it is the goal of the Worthington Family is to eventually honor Dustin by having full participation in every county in Kentucky.

The following rules apply:

*Contest open to Mercer, Boyle, Washington, Lincoln, Garrard and Bath counties youth. Youth must be active participants of 4-H or FFA to participate.

*Participants who win may not apply for future awards.

*Form must be completed in member’s own writing or typed.

*All participants and their family are invited to an awards presentation on April 4. Winners will be presented with a plaque and animal will be delivered to the winner’s farm within a week of the awards presentation.

*Winners will be asked to sign a contract of care and keep the donor updated.

Information and application forms are available for download at www.dustinworthingtonmemorial.org/index.html

The contest rules say each applicant must complete an application form which can be downloaded from the contest website. Then completed forms with the essays attached and three personal references – one of which must be the applicant’s county extension agent or FFA advisor – must be mailed or otherwise returned to the extension agent or advisor before the deadline.

Winners and past winners are encouraged to give back to the program by donating their first-born heifer to continue the program for future years. Contributions to the Memorial Fund are requested and should go to: Dustin Worthington I Love Cows Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 520, Harrodsburg, KY 40330.

If you have any other questions regarding this program please contact one of the following: Dennis Worthington at 859-734-6962 or Dana Anderson, Mercer County extension agent for 4-H/Youth Development, at 859-734-4378.