Youth Quality Care of Animals certification to exhibit needed

Any 4-H’ers exhibiting any beef, dairy, goats, poultry, rabbits, sheep and swine must complete the Youth Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) to exhibit these species of livestock.

The YQCA is a quality assurance program similar to Junior Pork Quality Assurance (JPQA) program that swine members have completed for many years in order to be allowed to sell swine. The only exception for someone to not complete the YQCA to show in 2018 is for those who have a current valid JPQA card on show day. As JPQA cards expire, these youth will transition to the YQCA program as well.

What is the YQCA?

It is a one-hour program that must be taught by a certified Extension, FFA adviser, or veterinarian or it may be completed online. Face-to-face adviser meetings will cost $3 while the online programs will cost $12. The fees are completely handled online with the YQCA registration website via credit card. The local Extension Office has obtained a few coupon codes for those who do not have access to a credit or debit card for payment.

Emails/texts have been going to all livestock members to provide reminders of upcoming programs. All 4-H members will sign up for a training at https://yqca.learngrow.io/Account/Login and login with your 4honline account info if you want to check it out. Also there are links at the Putnam 4-H Livestock page located at www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam for a shorter URL.

Many other livestock shows are said to be requiring this certification as well so FFA or other youth not enrolled in 4-H may create an account and become certified as well.

Indiana 4-H, like many other states, has adopted this program to help ensure food safety and proper animal care educational awareness. Already having conducted four programs, the general feedback regarding the program has been positive locally. The slide decks required for use in the face-to-face programs are interactive in nature keeping the audience engaged. Upcoming YQCA programs may be found in the upcoming events section of this column. One may also complete the certification in another county. The certification is not species specific, meaning you only need to complete it once annually despite the fact one may exhibit multiple species.

Upcoming events

March 12 – Cultivating Your Farmers Market Knowledge – Night 3, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

March 16 – Garden Fair, Putnam County, Fairgrounds, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.