Get started in your county
Your herd begins with an essay.
Every Kentucky 4-H and FFA member is invited to enter the annual I Love Cows essay contest. Write from the heart — that's what Dustin would have done.
Application window
Each January
The application is posted early each year and stays open for a limited time.
Awards presentation
April 4th
Heifers are presented at the Mercer County Extension Office, in Dustin's memory.
Who can win in your county?
A county is eligible when a local farm donates a heifer or when enough entrants take part. Youth in counties without a contributing farm can still compete in the statewide 4-H and FFA divisions — every member in Kentucky has a path to the award.
Applications & forms
Everything you need to enter.
Essay application
Applications are currently closed.
The new application is posted each January and accepts entries for a limited time. Leave your email and we'll notify you the moment it opens — and remind you before the deadline.
Recommendation Form
For the leader, agent, or advisor recommending an applicant.
Past Winner Donation Form
Previous winners — report on how your heifer and herd are doing, and arrange giving a calf back to the program.
In the news
Dustin's story, told well.
Read both features right here — no downloads needed.
University of Kentucky · April 11, 2007
Competition Memorializes Teen Who Loved Cows
Carol L. Spence tells the story of the Fund — the fathers, the winners, and the herds that grew from a single essay.
Read the articleAngus Journal · Feature
“I Love Cows” — as featured in the Angus Journal
The national breed magazine's feature on the memorial and the young cattle enthusiasts it honors, in its original layout.
View the feature