Southern Maryland Meats 2026 Jr. Livestock Program Now Accepting Applications
SMM Jr. Program engages kids and youth in raising livestock for quality meat production
The Southern Maryland Meats Program (SMM) is pleased to announce the application process for the 2026 SMM Junior Livestock Program is now open.
The SMM Junior Program was developed to engage young people in raising high quality meat animals adhering to SMM standards for feed, humane treatment and responsible raising practices, and to incentivize participation in the adult SMM marketing program.
The SMM Junior Livestock Program is open to kids and youth (age 8 to 21 yrs) involved in livestock production resident in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s counties. More than 100 youth have signed up to participate in the SMM Junior program since its inception in 2017. Eligible SMM Junior livestock projects include beef, sheep, hogs, goats, poultry and rabbits. 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) members are encouraged to apply.
Criteria
- Open to youth ages 8 to 21 years
- Must be resident and raising your animals in one of the 5 Southern Maryland counties
(Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s) - Eligible livestock projects are for meat animals (beef, lamb, pork, poultry, rabbit, and goat/chevron)
Requirements
- Sign up for the Southern Maryland Meats Program, the application can be found HERE, Application Deadline: June 12, 2026
- Raise your animals in accordance with the Southern Maryland Meats Quality Standards
- *Write a one-page essay about your livestock project using the Southern Maryland Meats Standards. Essays are to be written entirely by the participant (no AI allowed). Due to Craig Sewell via email by January 15, 2027. Mail to: csewell@smadc.com.
Benefits
- No participation fees
- Free promotional materials
- Free Southern Maryland Meats T-Shirt
- Program Completion Certificate“ Pending when your animals have been sold and your essay reviewed by the SMM Marketing and Livestock Manager
- $125 completer reward. Awarded at project completion
2026 SMM Essay Topics
To earn the completion award, participants must submit an original, one-page essay about their livestock project and how it aligns with the Southern Maryland Meats standards. Essays must be written entirely by the participant (AI-generated submissions are not permitted) and emailed to Craig Sewell at csewell@smadc.com by Jan. 15, 2027. Choose one from the three topics below:
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Question 1 – Challenges & Growth: Describe a challenge you faced while raising your animal this season and explain what you did to work through it. What did that experience teach you about responsibility and animal care?”
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Question 2 – From Farm to Table “Explain where your animal’s meat is processed, and why locally raised meat matters to families in Southern Maryland. What are you most proud of about the product you raised this season?“
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Question 3 – Looking Ahead “What is one thing you learned about raising your animal this season — whether about feeding, health, handling, or showing — that you will do differently or build on next year? How has this program changed the way you think about agriculture?”
Southern Maryland Meats has always seen one of its missions as nurturing the next generation of livestock farmers, commented Craig Sewell, SMM Marketing and Livestock Manager. Through the creation of the Junior Promotion Program and as premier sponsor for the past 16 years of the Southern Maryland Invitational Livestock Expo (SMILE), SMM has a demonstrated commitment of support for the regions future farmers.
Essays for the SMM Junior Program must be submitted by January 15, 2027.
VIEW/SUBMIT THE SMM JR APPLICATION FORM HERE
The Southern Maryland Meats marketing program is a program of the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC), a Division of the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland.
Header Photo: courtesy of the Schmidt Family “The Farm at Glen Mary, St. Mary’s County.