Youth Quality Assurance
Quality assurance is a pledge or promise to 1) provide a food animal product preferred by consumers, and 2) provide a safe, wholesome food animal product. Food animals are those whose products (i.e., meat and milk) have the potential to become part of the food chain.
Food safety is paramount to animal agriculture, assuring consumer acceptance and confidence in a market where competing proteins and other alternatives are emerging, rivaling food products of animal origin. Furthermore, issues surrounding animal welfare in agricultural livestock production have surfaced that must be addressed at all levels of food animal production, including youth participation in food animal projects.
Youth involved in food animal exhibitions, by definition, are food animal producers. Youth food animal producers, at the culmination of the project, will sell their animal(s) and food products which are intended for human consumption.
Knowledge and mastery of the science of genetics, nutrition, management, handling, and environment in relation to the youth's food animal projects plays a critical role in the success of producing safe and wholesome food products for consumers. Therefore, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) mandates that all youth exhibiting food animal projects participate annually in quality assurance programming. OSU Extension provides the leadership for implementing quality assurance programs, in partnership with agricultural education and agricultural societies.
Youth who take food animal projects, by participating in science-based experiential learning activities, learn how to ensure that the products from their 4-H food animals are safe for consumers, and that their actions inspire general public and consumer confidence in assuring well-cared-for animals and quality products.
Click here to view and/or download a Quality Assurance Test Study Guide
2025 Stark County Quality Assurance Test Dates and Locations:
Test-Out Options:
During Committee Meetings: (committee meetings are open to everyone, if parents want to hang out during testing session)
February 5th – (during Horse Committee Meeting): 7pm – 8:30pm
(Test is 50 questions and usually takes less than an hour to complete)
February 13th – (during Auction Committee Meeting): 6:30-8:30pm
March 18th – (during Dairy Committee Meeting): 7-8:30pm
Other Options:
State Events (You are responsible for providing an attendance certificate to hoover.685@osu.edu)
Watch our social media pages for shared statewide training that is open virtually or in person
Beef Expo
- March 14, 2025 12:00p
- Ohio Fair Expo Center Coliseum
Online YQCA Training (There is a $12 fee for this option)
Use this link to access YQCA Training directions. Start your session at this link. https://yqcaprogram.org/
You must download and send your certificate to hoover.685@osu.edu to receive credit. The certificate must include the name, date, and certificate number. If we can’t see all the information, no credit is given.