YOuth for the Quality Care of Animals
Nebraska 4-H requires all youth enrolled in livestock projects to complete annual quality assurance certification through Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA). YQCA is a national multi-species quality assurance program focused on three core pillars: food safety, animal well-being, and character development.
Requirements
YQCA certification is required for all 4-H members enrolled in any of the following projects:
- Beef (bucket calf, feeder calf, breeding beef, market beef)
- Dairy Cattle
- Goat (breeding meat goat, dairy goat, meat goat)
- Poultry
- Rabbit
- Sheep (breeding sheep, market sheep)
- Swine (breeding swine, market swine)
Annual Training
Nebraska 4-H members ages 8-18, who are enrolled in any of the livestock projects listed above are required to participate in an annual YQCA training. Annual training requirements may be satisfied by completing either an online web-based training course or a face-to-face instructor-led training course.
Web-Based Training
Web-based annual training is available through the YQCA learning management system. The online YQCA course costs $12 per individual regardless of age.
Each session purchased includes three modules - a knowledge builder, a skills lab, and a quiz. The knowledge builder is where content is delivered. The skills lab provides an opportunity to apply the content. The quiz test knowledge. To receive certification, 80% must be achieved on the 10-question quiz. These modules, completed in their entirety, will provide 2-3 hours of experience. Features of the online modules include:
- Characters at each age level to guide youth through the course.
- Free navigation within the course so youth can spend as much or as little time on a particular topic based on their personal needs.
- Variety of learning opportunities to accommodate various learning styles and modalities.
- Audio button on each slide so youth can listen to audio rather than read the on-screen text.
Face-to-Face Training
Face-to-Face YQCA training is also available to satisfy annual training requirements. Please note that these training courses must be facilitated by a YQCA Certified Instructor. In-person YQCA training courses cost $3 per individual regardless of age.
Testing Out
Test-out options are only available to youth in the first year of Intermediate (age 12) and Senior (age 15) age levels. There is no test-out option for Juniors. If passed, youth will not be required to complete the annual training requirements for the remainder of their current age level (Intermediates: 12-14; Seniors: 15-18). Each test consists of 50 randomly selected questions and has a pass rate of 80% or better for certification.
Participants will have only one chance to take the test-out option. If youth fail, they will not be provided another opportunity to test out of that age level. Participants who do not pass will be prompted to take the instructor-led training or web-based training annually.
If the youth passes, payment for the completed test-out course will be required after the completion of the test. No payment is required to attempt the test. Test-out costs are:
- Intermediate: $36 ($12 x 3 years of certification)
- Senior: $48 ($12 x 4 years of certification).
If passed, youth will receive access to online modules that correspond with the age levels, found on the user's "My Library" page.
Deadlines
The deadline to complete the annual YQCA training or to test out of annual training is determined by local Extension offices. Please check your local county information to ensure that you meet the deadline for county fair exhibition.
4-H members who exhibit at the Nebraska State Fair will need to have their YQCA training requirements met by the date of entry for those respective shows.
Grievance Policy
Purpose: Any person who feels that a violation of the rules or regulations of the Dakota-Thurston 4-H County Fairbook has occurred, must go through a protest/appeals process. This appeals process covers all 4-H contests, static exhibits, and livestock exhibits/shows.
Set-Up: The committee would be made up of the following: (each serving for a one year term)
- Each county 4-H Council President (2 members)
- One other 4-H Council member from each county (2 members)
- Two fairboard members, one from each county (2 members)
- The chair from the committee in which the grievance was submitted (1 member)
Total: 7
Terms:
- Each grievance must be written and submitted by the exhibitor to Dakota-Thurston County Extension Office Staff.
- Protests for pre-fair events must be filed within 24 hours or close of next business day.
- Protests for fair exhibits/shows will not be accepted after the exhibit release time.
- Each individual will need to pay a $50.00 filing fee for the grievance. Filing fee will be refunded upon positive settlement
- All grievances will be kept on file for 2 years.
THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS IS NOT FOR MISSED DEADLINES. (ex. Drop/Add, Horse Entry, Horse Affidavit, Livestock Affidavit, YQCA, Pre-Fair Entries) Refer to 4-H & General Rules 8 and 19 on late policies.
Substitute Showmanship
Substitute Showman - An animal must be shown by the 4-H/FFA owner who entered it, unless the exhibitor is excused by the Grievance Committee because of serious illness, disability due to an injury (e.g. broken arm or leg) or death in immediate family. 4-H/FFA member must submit a grievance form to the Grievance Committee.
An exhibitor who has more than one animal in a class need not secure approval for another 4-H/FFA member, (eligible to exhibit livestock) to show the additional animal in the class. All substitute showmen MUST currently be an enrolled Dakota or Thurston County 4-H/FFA Member and will wear an exhibitor number identifying him/her as a substitute showman.