The Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) curriculum enhances the educational experience for youth who show or produce livestock. It is a national, multi-species, science-based program for ages 8 to 21.
YQCA was developed through a collaboration of livestock industry professionals and educators. It is an expansion of the National Pork Board’s former Youth PQA Plus program, which offered training for swine only. The goal of the revised program is to continually improve the care of animals and provide a higher level of food safety to consumers.
YQCA certification is being accepted by many livestock shows and fairs that require youth quality assurance certification. To date, all 4-H Meat Animal Exhibitors attending the Wheat Land Communities’ Fair, Grant County Fair and the Othello Community Fair. Again this year, the Fair Livestock Committees have mandated that all 4-H members must be current with their YQCA Certification.
YQCA includes information for youth showing the following food animals:
*Pigs
*Beef Cattle
*Dairy Cattle
*Sheep
*Goats
*Market Rabbits
*Poultry
YQCA Certification-there are two training options:
Web-Based Training: $12.00
Instructor-Led Training: $3.00 (you will need to create account and then register for an Instructor-Led Training in your area)
If you have questions on how to register, contact Randy Williams, Lincoln-Adams 4-H Program Coordinator, at 509-869-1818 or randy.williams@wsu.edu.
*Currently YQCA is not required at Jr Livestock Show or Spokane County Fair. But neighboring 4-H Counties like Whitman, Adams, Benton and Franklin are requiring this program.
*This page provides links to external sites for the convenience of users. These external sites are not managed by the WSU Extension. Furthermore, WSU Extension does not review, control or take responsibility for the content of these sites, nor do these sites implicitly or explicitly represent official positions and policies of WSU Extension. Reference to commercial services, non-4-H activities, products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by WSU Extension or 4-H is implied.
Extension programs and policies are consistent with federal and state laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race; sex/gender; sexual orientation; gender identity/expression; religion; age; color; creed; national or ethnic origin; physical, mental, or sensory disability, including disability requiring the use of a trained service animal; marital status, genetic information, and/or status as an honorably discharged veteran or member of the military. Report concerns to oeo.wsu.edu, 509-335-8288, or your local Extension office. Requests for special accommodations at Lincoln-Adams Extension Events can be made at least two weeks in advance by calling 509-659-3209 or 509-725-4171.