Save the dates for Hartford Fair Livestock Quality Assurance (QA) Trainings! Any junior fair exhibitor that plans to show livestock at either the Hartford Fair or Ohio State Fair MUST complete an approved QA training by June 1, 2023 in order to be eligible to show in 2023. We are excited to return to holding QA trainings IN PERSON this year. Please review the Junior Fair Livestock Quality Assurance Guidelines for all requirements and a list of approved trainings. Please ensure you have a plan to either attend an in-person training or complete the online YQCA module BEFORE June 1, 2023.

SPECIAL NOTES:

• There will NOT be a Horse Safety and Ethics training option during the QA trainings. ALL horse members will be required to complete the online EquiSTEP training module. More details can be found HERE.
• Only Licking County 4-H/FFA Quality Assurance Programs will address program changes and updated for the Hartford Fair. If you choose to attend another QA program or complete the YQCA online module, please ensure that you are watching for updates through the Licking County Extension and Hartford Fair websites and that you check in with your advisor(s) for updates and changes as well.

Licking County Livestock Project Members (beef | dairy | dairy feeder | goat | poultry | rabbit | sheep | swine)…

BACKGROUND: All members in the above-listed projects are required to complete a Livestock Quality Assurance (QA) training on an annual basis in order to exhibit in Junior Fair programs such as the Hartford Fair and Ohio State Fair. You will find details below allowing you to complete the QA requirement for 2022. As a reminder, this requirement pertains to all livestock project members, as well as at least one Club Advisor from each club containing a member enrolled in livestock projects. Training must be completed by no later than June 1^st.

As you plan to complete your QA requirement in 2022, you’ve got TWO primary options!

• Attend an online QA training offered by Licking County Extension Office
• Participate in the YQCA national training program online
• …or you may have obtained your training through an OCA BEST Show, Ohio Beef Expo, or other training external to Licking County, offered since October 2021, that meets your requirement for this year.
• …or you may have tested out in 2020 (ages 15-18, passed test), which covers your requirement for this year.

LICKING COUNTY ONLINE TRAINING REGISTRATION…

To sign-up for one of the online trainings offered in Licking County, simply go to https://go.osu.edu/QASignUp2022, and complete the registration form, at which time you’ll choose your preferred session. Please notice that all sessions are species-specific. Make your selection carefully… Sessions will fill to a capacity of 65 families on a first-come, first-served basis. You’ll receive an email confirmation right away (within 2-3 minutes), then the zoom link and handouts will come approximately 24 hours in advance of your training. If you DON’T RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, check your spam/junk email folder first – it may be there! If not there either, you can reach out to Lisa (mccutcheon.46@osu.edu) right away, as you likely typed your email address incorrectly. You can view complete information pertaining to Quality Assurance requirements for 2022, as well as the complete list of dates, online here. All advisors and members may only register for ONE session, as space is limited. We also ask that if members of a family are planning to attend the same sessions, that they all register through the same login – complete registration one time, but add all names in the box provided. If you must cancel or changes sessions, please email mccutcheon.46@osu.edu so that we can make adjustments to allow space for someone else.

YQCA ONLINE TRAINING….

Online training is available through the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) web-based program. The program is typically offered at a cost of $12 per youth member. You can find additional details online at http://yqca.org/. You must first purchase a Coupon Code (registration fee) to complete the training. You’ll find those instructions behind the “Buy Coupon” tab, at the top of the page. You can submit the order form by email or mail – but don’t wait until the last minute to choose this option, as the payment process takes a little time. Once you have the Coupon Code, you can log in to the YQCA system, and complete the appropriate training modules. All 4-H members will use their 4honline username and password to login, while those who are FFA members will login through a separate link on the same login page.  Upon completion of certification, you need to email mccutcheon.46@osu.edu so that we will know that you have completed the training (We would also suggest notifying your 4-H / FFA Advisor). We will them remove you from the list of those who still need to complete QA training for the 2022 project/fair year. This online certification is a great option for many of you who wish to go ahead and get your training out of the way early, as well as those who wait until the last minute, when all other trainings have already been held. (Note: YQCA is NOT intended for use by 4-H / FFA advisors).

TEST OUT…

If you tested out in 2020 as a age 15-18 member (only 16 individuals), we have record of your test and you will automatically receive credit for this year. We will not be offering the test-out option in 2022 due to the difficulties experienced in doing so during 2020 and the very few members who took advantage of this option.

EXTERNAL TRAINING…

If you attended a training outside of Licking County, we’d encourage you to pass along proof of attendance to mccutcheon.46@osu.edu, to ensure that you receive credit. Most training hosts will share attendance records, but there’s always a chance that they do not. By you sharing your proof of attendance, it ensures that you receive the appropriate credit.

Licking County Livestock Project Members (beef | dairy | dairy feeder | goat | poultry | rabbit | sheep | swine)…

BACKGROUND: All members in the above-listed projects are required to complete a Livestock Quality Assurance (QA) training on an annual basis in order to exhibit in Junior Fair programs such as the Hartford Fair and Ohio State Fair. You will find details below allowing you to complete the QA requirement for 2022. As a reminder, this requirement pertains to all livestock project members, as well as at least one Club Advisor from each club containing a member enrolled in livestock projects. Training must be completed by no later than June 1^st.

As you plan to complete your QA requirement in 2022, you’ve got TWO primary options!

• Attend an online QA training offered by Licking County Extension Office
• Participate in the YQCA national training program online
• …or you may have obtained your training through an OCA BEST Show, Ohio Beef Expo, or other training external to Licking County, offered since October 2021, that meets your requirement for this year.
• …or you may have tested out in 2020 (ages 15-18, passed test), which covers your requirement for this year.

LICKING COUNTY ONLINE TRAINING REGISTRATION…

To sign-up for one of the online trainings offered in Licking County, simply go to https://go.osu.edu/QASignUp2022, and complete the registration form, at which time you’ll choose your preferred session. Please notice that all sessions are species-specific. Make your selection carefully… Sessions will fill to a capacity of 65 families on a first-come, first-served basis. You’ll receive an email confirmation right away (within 2-3 minutes), then the zoom link and handouts will come approximately 24 hours in advance of your training. If you DON’T RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, check your spam/junk email folder first – it may be there! If not there either, you can reach out to Lisa (mccutcheon.46@osu.edu) right away, as you likely typed your email address incorrectly. You can view complete information pertaining to Quality Assurance requirements for 2022, as well as the complete list of dates, online here. All advisors and members may only register for ONE session, as space is limited. We also ask that if members of a family are planning to attend the same sessions, that they all register through the same login – complete registration one time, but add all names in the box provided. If you must cancel or changes sessions, please email mccutcheon.46@osu.edu so that we can make adjustments to allow space for someone else.

YQCA ONLINE TRAINING….

Online training is available through the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) web-based program. The program is typically offered at a cost of $12 per youth member. You can find additional details online at http://yqca.org/. You must first purchase a Coupon Code (registration fee) to complete the training. You’ll find those instructions behind the “Buy Coupon” tab, at the top of the page. You can submit the order form by email or mail – but don’t wait until the last minute to choose this option, as the payment process takes a little time. Once you have the Coupon Code, you can log in to the YQCA system, and complete the appropriate training modules. All 4-H members will use their 4honline username and password to login, while those who are FFA members will login through a separate link on the same login page.  Upon completion of certification, you need to email mccutcheon.46@osu.edu so that we will know that you have completed the training (We would also suggest notifying your 4-H / FFA Advisor). We will them remove you from the list of those who still need to complete QA training for the 2022 project/fair year. This online certification is a great option for many of you who wish to go ahead and get your training out of the way early, as well as those who wait until the last minute, when all other trainings have already been held. (Note: YQCA is NOT intended for use by 4-H / FFA advisors).

TEST OUT…

If you tested out in 2020 as a age 15-18 member (only 16 individuals), we have record of your test and you will automatically receive credit for this year. We will not be offering the test-out option in 2022 due to the difficulties experienced in doing so during 2020 and the very few members who took advantage of this option.

EXTERNAL TRAINING…

If you attended a training outside of Licking County, we’d encourage you to pass along proof of attendance to mccutcheon.46@osu.edu, to ensure that you receive credit. Most training hosts will share attendance records, but there’s always a chance that they do not. By you sharing your proof of attendance, it ensures that you receive the appropriate credit.