Keeping memories alive by improving the future of Kentucky's farm youth.

In loving memory of Dustin Dale Worthington — seventeen years old, devoted to his cattle, and, in his father's words, “a kid worth knowing.”

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His story

“I love cows.”

That's what Dustin's cell phone greeting said. Not a girlfriend's name, not a slogan — just the plain truth about a Mercer County teenager who woke before dawn for his cattle and hurried home to them after school.

Dustin Dale Worthington was only 17 years old and loved working with cattle, and did so until his death on April 4, 2000. In his memory, his family established an award unlike any other: a heifer calf, presented to the 4-H or FFA member who writes the winning essay for his or her county.

The awards are presented on April 4th of each year at the Mercer County Extension Office. The fund began in 2000 with two counties and has grown to numerous individual counties, plus two statewide awards — one for 4-H and one for FFA. The Worthington family's goal is to one day honor Dustin in every county in Kentucky.

Dustin Worthington smiling in his cap — Dustin Dale Worthington

Dustin Worthington at the farm — At home among the cattle

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“Daddy, why don't you give a kid a cow? If he does it right, he'll make more with a cow than a couple hundred dollars will do him… He might buy a farm someday.”

The conversation Dennis Worthington imagined with his son — the idea that became the Fund

The award

One essay can start a herd.

A local committee of volunteers assists the Worthington family in promoting and judging the essays, every single year.

Write the essay

Any Kentucky 4-H or FFA member can enter the annual I Love Cows essay contest. Applications are due March 3rd.

Win your county

Winning essays are chosen in each participating county, with two statewide awards — one for 4-H and one for FFA.

Receive a heifer

Winners are presented a heifer calf on April 4th at the Mercer County Extension Office — the start of a herd of their own.

A living legacy

Since the first heifers in 2000…

heifers awarded to Kentucky youth

in value given to young farmers

counties represented by essay writers in a single year

The story of the Fund

From two counties, a movement.

2000

On April 4th, Dustin and his friend Dale Goodpaster are lost in an automobile accident. One month later, the first two heifers are awarded in Mercer and Boyle counties.

2005

Winner Megan Cole's registered Angus heifer grows into a herd of thirteen — two grand championships and a first at the Kentucky State Fair. She gives a heifer calf back, “with the hopes that someone can have the experience that I have had.”

2007

A record year: 88 essays arrive from 31 counties, and seventeen heifers — fourteen beef and three dairy — are awarded to fifteen county winners and two statewide champions.

Today

The Fund awards heifers across Kentucky, with statewide honors for both 4-H and FFA — working toward the family's goal of reaching every county in the Commonwealth.

A heifer like those awarded by the Fund — Every winner's herd begins with one

The tradition

“A gift isn't a gift if you have to give it back. But if a kid decides they want to give it back, that means more to me.”

— Dennis Worthington, Dustin's father

It is never required — yet many winners choose to donate their heifer's first-born calf back to the program, passing Dustin's gift on to the next young farmer. One early winner grew a single heifer into tens of thousands of dollars of cattle, with bloodlines still carrying forward today.

Help introduce Dustin to someone who never got the chance to know him.

Donate a heifer, give financially, or pick up a pen. However you take part, you keep his memory working for Kentucky's farm youth.

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