YQCA
A-P is a YQCA Instructor-Led Certified Program
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 is the result of a collaborative effort between states that have previously offered multi-species youth livestock quality assurance programs, the National Pork Board’s Youth PQA Plus program and representatives from other national livestock groups.
The program has been designed by extension specialists and national livestock program managers to ensure it is accurate, current and relevant to the needs of the animal industry and shows and is appropriate for youth.
YQCA certification can be earned in three ways - online training, instructor-led training, or test out. It focuses on three core pillars - food safety, animal well-being and character development - for the following animals:
Pigs
Beef Cattle
Dairy Cattle
Sheep
Goats
Market Rabbits
Poultry
YQCA is required for all county fair exhibitors (both 4-H/ FFA), as well as all State Fair FFA and 4-H exhibitors.
Evidence-based content organized by age level:
The YQCA curriculum is broken into four levels: Junior ages 8-11, Intermediate ages 12-14, Senior ages 15-18 and Young Adult ages 19-21. Three or four levels of content focused on food safety, animal well-being and character are outlined for each level. Topics include but are not limited to:
The Basics of Animal Identification
Daily Animal Care
Administering Animal Health Products
Providing Quality Care
Herd Health Plan
Providing Quality Feed
Sharing The Story
Goals To Success
Ethics In The Show Ring