Grace received her first youth loan when she was 10.
By Lacy Roberts, Farm Service Agency
When Grace Rooney took out her first youth loan with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) at the age of 10, she didn’t quite know where it would lead. Now, five years later, she has ribbons, rosettes, trophies and a small farm of her own.
These loans help youth between the ages of 10 and 21 start and operate income-producing projects in connection with their participation in 4-H, the National FFA Organization, a tribal youth group, or other similar agricultural youth organization. They provide an opportunity for young entrepreneurs to acquire experience and education in agriculture-related skills.
Grace’s youth loan helped her purchase a hog and items she would need to care for it. After the first project went well, she came back and applied for a second year and expanded her plans to include a market lamb.
“I wanted to get the loan to pay for my animals and their feed,” Grace said. “It is a good way to start up and get to the point where you don’t need loans.”
After two years of youth loans, Grace had made enough money through her 4-H projects to fund projects on her own going forward.
With guidance from her grandparents, she continued to expand her projects. As part of the expansion, she purchased a colt using her 4-H proceeds and is adding a bred ewe for a sheep breeding project. Over the years, she has also added chickens and goats.
While she’s faced some challenges along the way, Grace continues to work hard to succeed.
These projects have not only taught her how to care for livestock but have also created an extra learning opportunity on building corrals and pens for her animals.
With her grandfather’s help, she recently built an enclosed pen in their lean-to for her ewes and goats during the cold winter months. She plans to install a camera in the pen to monitor her ewe during lambing season.
While she’s faced some challenges along the way, she continues to work hard to succeed, winning Grand Champion Market Lamb and Grand Champion Lamb Showman titles in 2018.
When she isn’t at school or with her animals, Grace finds time to sew, quilt, run cross-country and play basketball. After she graduates from high school, she plans to study equine science in the hope of becoming a horse trainer.
For more information about programs and services, contact your local USDA service center or visit farmers.gov.
