All exhibitors in the following categories must complete an approved QA program in an Ohio County before June 1 of the current year to compete at the Clermont County Junior Fair or the Ohio State Fair.
- lactating dairy cattle
- lactating dairy goats
- market beef (steer or heifer)
- market goats
- market hogs
- market lambs
- market poultry (chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese)
- market rabbits
Youth Quality Assurance
Quality assurance is a pledge or promises to 1) provide a food animal product preferred by consumers, and 2) provide a safe, wholesome food animal product. Food animals are those whose products (meat, milk, and eggs) have the potential to become part of the food chain.
Food safety is paramount to animal agriculture, assuring consumer acceptance and confidence in a market where competing proteins and other alternatives are emerging, rivaling food products of animal origin. Furthermore, issues surrounding animal welfare in agricultural livestock production have surfaced that must be addressed at all levels of food animal production, including youth participation in food animal projects.
Youth involved in food animal exhibitions, by definition, are food animal producers. Youth food animal producers, at the culmination of the project, will sell their animal(s) and food products which are intended for human consumption.
Knowledge and mastery of the science of genetics, nutrition, management, handling, and environment in relation to the youth’s food animal projects play a critical role in the success of producing safe and wholesome food products for consumers. Therefore, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) mandates that all youth exhibiting food animal projects participate annually in quality assurance programming. OSU Extension provides the leadership for implementing quality assurance programs, in partnership with agricultural education and agricultural societies.
Youth who take food animal projects, by participating in science-based experiential learning activities, learn how to ensure that the products from their 4-H food animals are safe for consumers and that their actions inspire the general public and consumer confidence in assuring well-cared-for animals and quality products.
- In-person Training
- April 23, 2022
- Session 1: 10a – 11a 4-H Hall, Clermont County Fairgrounds
- Session 2: 1p – 2p 4-H Hall, Clermont County Fairgrounds
- April 30, 2022, During the Goat Clinic. More details to come
- April 23, 2022
- Test Out Options
February 21, 2022, 9a – 3p in the Extension Office- April 23, 2022, 10:30a – 11:30p in the 4-H Hall Kitchen
- 12-14-year-old and 15-18-year-old 4-H and FFA members may test out of their annual quality assurance (QA) program
- Test are given based on age group and large or small animal shown
- These ages are as of January 1, 2022 – a youth’s 4-H age.
- Youth ages 12-14 who pass the QA test can test out of their annual QA program for up to 3 years.
- Youth ages 15-18 years who pass the QA test can test out of their annual QA program permanently.
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- Online YQCA Training
- Not available until after March 23, 2022, due to technical updating of the system. http://yqca.org/
- If you have used this system since October 2021, please download your certificate and email it to neal.331@osu.edu. If you do not download and email, you will not be considered complete for 2022.
- Ag Ed/FFA Training
- Check with your teacher for when you are completing this process. The teacher will turn in a list of names to the Extension Office
- Yes, you can be trained in another county school if the teacher is properly certified. The teacher will need to turn in completer names to neal.331@osu.edu
- State Events (You are responsible to provide an attendance certificate to neal.331@osu.edu)
- Watch our social media pages for shared statewide training that are open virtually or in-person
- Poultry Clinic March 19, 2022, Register by March 2
- Beef Expo March 18, 2022 12:30p See Ohio Beef Expo Schedule for building
- Dairy Palooza April 30, 2022, Wayne County Fairgrounds
This is a fluid event. Check our website for updates.