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About scramble animal and quality assurance programs
One program that many may not be aware of, is that 4-H’ers who want to experience an animal project in sheep, goat, swine or dairy steer may try out these projects by receiving a scramble (donated) animal for that particular species. This is typically a youth who is in grades 3, 4 or 5 who wants to try the particular species animal project.
Certain criteria apply like having the necessary facility to care for the animal, and one may only have one scramble animal in any given year. The intent is to help build interest in youth to show a particular species and learn from the project experience. Part of this experience is that a scramble animal must go through the Putnam County 4-H Fair livestock auction.
Contact the Extension office (info below) if you would like to know more or sign up, and we will let the respective species superintendent know of your interest.
This year by July 8, any 4-H’er showing beef, dairy, goat, poultry, rabbit, sheep or swine must have completed one of two quality assurance program options to exhibit at the county or state fair. This is a firm deadline that has been state-implemented where each county sets a date one-to-three weeks ahead of their first judging date for all fair entry and quality assurance completions. Putnam County staff selected a date that was a week ahead of the first judging day.
The first option (which most will likely select) is the Indiana 4-H Quality Assurance Program, which one can go to their 4honline account, go to “Events” on the left menu to find a class to enroll in by then selecting “Register for a New Event” at the top-right. We have local ones identified as “Putnam,” though other counties may have opened theirs up as well. Make sure you are selecting the correct location. You may complete this program in any county.
Our Putnam event sign up is very easy. These are only in person and cost is $3 payable at the door. We will add more options, including one at North Putnam as in the past. Use your 4honline account to sign up for one of the events at the Putnam County Fairgrounds or other locations. Upcoming dates at the fairgrounds are March 13, June 17 and July 8.
Those showing at national shows may want to complete the second option, which is the Youth Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) program, which can be completed online and was solely previously used for livestock quality assurance education for 4-H. If you choose to do YQCA, email or mail a copy of your certification card to the office by July 8. Also, if you took the class late last year and wish to do YQCA again, don’t wait until the last minute. There may be issues in signing up for the next level class when the previous has not expired.
One can still sign up for 4-H using https://v2.4honline.com/#/user/sign-in to enroll. Except at this point, horse and pony, archery and dog are closed. If you have questions about Putnam County 4-H, contact County Extension Director Mark Evans, Education Program Coordinator Kim Beadles or the office manager for help. The 4-H info on the county Extension homepage has been updated recently as well.
Visit www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or contact the local Purdue Extension office at 653-8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to ensure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs.
Upcoming Events
March 13 – Putnam 4-H Quality Livestock Care program, 6 p.m., Fairgrounds, register at https://PutnamIQA03-13-24.4honline.com
March 15 – The Legal Side of Agriculture, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Ivy Tech-Greencastle, $20, register at https://purdue.link/AgLaw24
March 16 – Garden Fair, Putnam County Fairgrounds
March 22 – Weather and Climate Tools to Mitigate, noon, register at https://bit.ly/WIAWebinars2024
March 29 – Extension office closed (all county offices) in observance of Good Friday
April 8 – Extension office closed (all county offices) for solar eclipse
April 8 – ServSafe food manager course and exam in Montgomery County; register at https://cvent.me/zEnyl3 by April 1
April 26 – Artificial Intelligence in Farm Management, noon, register at https://bit.ly/WIAWebinars2024