BEDFORD – To exhibit beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, sheep, goats, poultry, and rabbits, 4-H members must be certified through the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals Program (YQCA) to show their livestock at the fair.
YQCA is a program that will provide quality assurance education on all livestock species. It is a national quality assurance program for youth ages 8 to 21 with a focus on three core pillars: food safety, animal well-being, and character development.
The program can be completed via online modules or in-person training.
This requirement should not be viewed as just another rule, but rather as an important educational opportunity for 4-H livestock members. Making this an exhibition rule is how officials ensuring that 4-H members learn about quality assurance, but it really has nothing to do with animal exhibition. The real reason officals are requiring this is so the youth learn the best management practices with their animals.
The goals of having 4-H members complete the YQCA program include ensuring that youth will be more prepared to be ambassadors for animal agriculture in their role as youth livestock exhibitors; that animals from youth livestock programs are treated with the utmost care, and 4-H members are contributing to a safe, wholesome food supply.”
There are two ways to complete your certification: in-person or online. Youth may complete the training online (http://yqca.org) at a cost of $12 or they can participate in an in-person training for $3.
Online
- Cost: $12
- Timing: Youth can complete the course at their convenience online at any point.
- How to register: Go to http://yqca.org and log in using your 4HOnline email and password
In-person
- Cost: $3
- Timing: Youth must attend one of the classes hosted by an instructor.
- The following dates are tentative and registration will not open until late April:
- Tuesday, May 12, 6:00 PM, Extension Office
- Thursday, May 27, 5:30 PM, Extension Office
- Thursday, June 10, 6:00 PM, Extension Office
- Monday, June 21, 3:00 PM, Extension Office
- Watch YQCA Website for courses hosted by additional instructors.
- How to register: Go to http://yqca.org and log in using your 4HOnline email and password
- YQCA Registration Guide
You can also contact the Purdue Extension Lawrence County Office at 812- 275-4623 with any questions you may have. They have computers in the office you can use to register for a class.
