Youth Livestock Quality Assurance

Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA)

Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) is a new national, multi-species youth livestock quality assurance program. It is open to youth 8-21 years of age and focuses on food safety, animal well-being, and character development. For further details, please contact your local extension office or visit the program website, yqcaprogram.org. To register for training, create a user account here. The YQCA program transitioned to a new platform in March of 2022, so it is no longer affiliated with 4HOnline. Families who completed their training prior to the transition, or have kids who will be completing their certification for the first time, will need to navigate to the new website and create a new user account.

As of June 1, 2018, the Youth PQA Plus program has been discontinued. The National Pork Board will honor certifications until they expire, but new certifications will no longer be issued. Youth are encouraged to use YQCA if they need quality assurance training.

YQCA Resources

Help Documents

Web-based Certification Instructions

Instructor-led Certification Instructions (face-to-face class)

Test Out Certification Instructions (only available for youth 12 and 15 years of age on Jan. 1)

Certificate Saving & Printing Instructions

Videos

Web-based Certification

Instructor-led Certification

Downloading Your Certificate

Coupons

Purchasing Coupons

State Show Requirement Information

Kansas YQCA Requirement Flyer

Kansas YQCA Requirement Family Memo (2024)

 

Other Quality Assurance Resources

Example Letter for Tyson (Cattle)

Form for Tyson (Cattle)

Use of New Swine Castration Method (Improvest)

Kansas State Fair: accepts the use of Improvest

Kansas Junior Livestock Show: barrows must be physical castrates. (more information (pdf))