YQCA (Youth for the Quality Care of Animals)

Nebraska 4‑H requires all youth enrolled in livestock projects to complete quality assurance training through Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) every year. YQCA is a national multi-species quality assurance program focused on three core pillars: food safety, animal well-being, and character development. YQCA training is completed online through self-directed courses. Some counties may also offer face-to-face YQCA trainings.

Every 4‑H member who exhibits a market animal must complete Quality Assurance by June 15 and provide a copy of their certificate to the Extension Office in order to show your market animal at the county fair. This includes exhibitors of beef, dairy, dairy goat, meat goat, poultry, rabbit, sheep and swine.