April 15, 2021
YQCA Requirement for State Shows
Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) is a national, multi-species youth livestock quality assurance program that focuses on food safety, animal well-being, and life skill development, through age-appropriate educational curriculum for youth 7-21 years of age. This program is an annual certification that grows with a young person, so the learning modules are different every year. A youth's certification must be valid through October 3, 2021 to be accepted. ALL exhibitors are required to be YQCA certified in order to participate in the 2021 Kansas State Fair Grand Drive and/or Kansas Junior Livestock Show (KJLS). This includes youth who will be showing market animals, commercial breeding females, and/or registered purebred breeding females.
Given the COVID-19 situation, families should contact their local extension office to see what options are available in their local area. There is also an option for 7-year-old members to obtain certification. They must participate in an instructor-led class with a parent or guardian. Those who need a web-based option for a 7-year-old exhibitor should contact their local extension office. The YQCA requirement for 7-year-old KJLS exhibitors will go into effect for this year's show (2021). Families need to attach copies of each child's YQCA certificate to their Declaration Form at the time of nomination.
More information may be found on the K-State Youth Livestock website, under Youth Livestock Quality Assurance, by contacting the local extension office, or via Lexie Hayes at adhayes@ksu.edu or 785-532-1264.