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To exhibit beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, sheep, meat goats (includes pygmy), dairy goats, poultry/waterfowl/pigeon, and rabbits, 4-H members must be certified through the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) program.
This is an annual program that can be completed via online modules ($12) or in-person trainings ($3). We are currently exploring options that would reduce the cost to our 4-H families. Clubs and Committees can purchase coupon vouchers for participants. Participants would enter code on the coupon at the time of registration. This will allow them to participate in a $3 workshop for free. (If your farm or business would be interested in sponsoring the YQCA program, please contact Purdue Extension Dubois County office.)
More information about YQCA is available at http://yqca.org.
While this is a new requirement, it should not be viewed as just another rule, but rather as an important educational opportunity for 4-H livestock members. Making this an exhibition rule is how Indiana 4-H is ensuring that 4-H members learn about quality assurance (though actually the program has nothing to do with animal exhibition). Indiana 4-H is requiring this program so youth learn best management practices with their animals. The YQCA program will:
- Ensure that youth livestock exhibitors are better prepared to be ambassadors for animal agriculture.
- Ensure that animals from youth livestock programs are treated with the utmost care.
- Ensure that 4-H members are contributing to a safe, wholesome food supply for consumers.
- Enhance the future of the livestock industry so that today’s youth producers can become more informed producers, consumers, and/or employees of the agriculture and food industry.
Youth need to complete only ONE workshop. IE: If Joe is in the beef, rabbit, and poultry projects, he only needs to attend ONE workshop, not three. YQCA is linked to 4Honline. We will be able to make reports to see who has completed workshops.
Why does it cost so much?
The following is a breakdown of where the fees collected are distributed for utilization:
$12.00 fee for online program
• $0.36 = credit card fees (typically)
• $5.00 = technical/user support, email and phone support, based in U.S.
• $5.00 = online system hosting, maintenance, ongoing development, security and privacy assurance
• $1.64 = stays with YQCA to invest in ongoing curriculum development and revision, program management, and promotion
$3 fee for in-person
• $0.09 = credit card fees (typically)
• $1.50 = technical/user support, email and phone support, based in U.S.
• $1.41 = online system hosting, maintenance, ongoing development, security and privacy assurance
Refunds are allowed on a very limited, case-by-case basis (e.g., instructor-led workshop cancelled due to extreme weather)
How were these fees established?
The fee structure was established by the YQCA Board of Directors. As a not-for-profit established for the sole purpose of providing quality and effective youth quality assurance training, the fees are intended to cover the costs of offering the program. The YQCA Board projected two major costs: 1) the initial cost to develop the new curriculum and to develop an online system that would integrate with 4-H Online, was safe and secure for minors, was stable, and met current data and web standards, and 2) the ongoing costs of keeping the curriculum revised, managing and promoting the program, and keeping the online system secure, safe and up-to-date.
The YQCA Board had to make estimates on number of users to establish a price point that would cover both the remaining costs of development and ongoing costs. The goal of the YQCA Board was to establish a fee structure that would not have to increase for at least 5 years so that all users would have a known cost to use for future planning. The YQCA Board also heard from state leaders that there was little capacity in state offices to provide user technical support, especially over holidays and weekends. The decision was made to have YQCA offer this support to all users and include this cost in the fee structure.
The primary industry partners for YQCA are National Pork Board, National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), National Milk Producers Federation, American Sheep Association, American Rabbit Breeders Association, and the National Western Stock Show.
Online Test Out Option
Those individuals wishing to test out must meet the following criteria:
- This is only available to youth in the first year of intermediate (age 12), senior (age 15) and young adult (age 19). There is no test-out option for juniors. At the bottom of the "Course List" page are the test-out options for these age levels.
- The test consists of 50 questions and requires a pass rate of 80% or better for certification.
- If passed, the certification will last through the end of user's age level (intermediate - ages 12,13 and 14; senior - ages 15,16,17 and 18 and young adult - ages 19,20,and 21).
- The intermediate and young adult test-out course will cost $36 ($12 x 3 years of certification) and the senior test-out course will cost $48 ($12 x 4 years of certification.) If passed, users will receive access to online modules that correspond with the age levels indicated above, found on the user's "My Library" page.
- Users will have one chance to take the test-out option. If they fail, they will not be provided another opportunity for that level of certification. 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.
- Participants attempting and not passing will be prompted to take the instructor-led training or web-based training annually.
Please contact your county educator to see if a coupon code is available.
Current Trainings Scheduled:
Crawford County
Daviess County
Dubois County (Coupon Codes are available to Dubois County members for in person trainings only)
Tuesday, March 16, 2021 - 6:30 pm EST, Dubois County 4-H Fairgrounds, Clover Pavilion, Huntingburg, IN
Friday, April 9, 2021 - 6:30 pm EST, Dubois County 4-H Fairgrounds, Clover Pavilion, Huntingburg, IN
Saturday, April 24, 2021 - 10:00 am EST, Dubois County 4-H Fairgrounds, Clover Pavilion, Huntingburg, IN
Gibson County
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Wednesday, May 12, 2021
Knox County
Monday, April 12, 2021 - 6:00 pm ET, Knox County 4-H Fairgrounds, Bicknell, IN
Sunday, May 2, 2021 - 2:00 pm ET, Knox County 4-H Fairgrounds, Bicknell, IN
Tuesday, May 18, 2021 - 6:00 pm ET, Knox County 4-H Fairgrounds, Bicknell, IN
Martin County
Thursday, March 11, 2021 - 6:00 pm EST, Martin County 4-H Fairgrounds/Community Learning Center, Loogootee, IN
Tuesday, April 13, 2021 - 6:00 pm EST, Martin County 4-H Fairgrounds/Community Learning Center, Loogootee, IN
Monday, May 10, 2021 - 6:30 pm EST, Martin County 4-H Fairgrounds/Community Learning Center, Loogootee, IN
Orange County
Perry County
Pike County
Tuesday, March 23, 2021 - Petersburg, IN
Monday, April 19, 2021 - Petersburg, IN
Thursday, May 6, 2021 - Petersburg, IN
Posey County
Monday, May 3, 2021 - 6:00 - 7:00 pm CT, Posey County Community Center, New Harmony, IN
Monday, May 10, 2021 - 6:00 - 7:00 pm CT, Posey County Community Center, New Harmony, IN
Monday, May 17, 2021 - 7:00 - 8:00 pm CT, Posey County Community Center, New Harmony, IN
Monday, May 24, 2021 - 7:00 - 8:00 pm CT, Posey County Community Center, New Harmony, IN
Spencer County
Monday, April 12, 2021 - 5:30 pm CT, Spencer County Youth and Community Center, Chrisney, IN
Monday, May 10, 2021 - 5:30 pm CT, Spencer County Youth and Community Center, Chrisney, IN
Vanderburgh County
Warrick County
Thursday, April 22, 2021 - 6:00 pm CT, Warrick County 4-H Fairgrounds, Boonville, IN
Wednesday, May 19, 2021 - 5:00 pm CT, Warrick County 4-H Fairgrounds, Boonville, IN
Thursday, June 10, 2021 - 3:00 pm CT, Warrick County 4-H Fairgrounds, Boonville, IN
Monday, June 21, 2021 - 5:00 pm CT, Warrick County 4-H Fairgrounds, Boonville, IN