• 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, 2024 – 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.

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 (cows NOT heifers)
• lactating dairy goats (goats that are producing milk, even if they are in their dry phase)
• market beef (steer or heifer) NOT feeder calves
• market goats
• market hogs
• market lambs
• market poultry (chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese)
• market rabbits (NOT breeding or fancy)

Youth Quality Assurance

Quality assurance is a pledge or promise 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 that 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.