4-H Livestock Quality Assurance Training (LQA)

Extension is expanding its online education and resources to adapt to COVID-19 restrictions.

Livestock Quality Assurance training helps youth provide excellent care for their food animals and ensure a high level of food safety to consumers. We designed it to enhance the educational experience of 4-H animal science projects.

Do you hope to exhibit with 4-H at the Minnesota State Fair? All 4-H livestock exhibitors must complete livestock quality assurance training.

Two training options:

A 3-hour in-person workshop (LQAE). Includes ethics. Valid for three years. See schedule below.
Youth for the quality care of animals (YQCA) - A one-hour online training. Valid for one year.

Youth who complete either one of these training options will receive a certificate of completion.

Minnesota 4-H Livestock Quality Assurance Policy (full policy)

LQA&E and YQCA Update for families

In 2020, due to Covid, we were unable to hold in-person state level 4-H livestock shows for youth to attend, thus we will be extending by one year the Livestock Quality Assurance and Ethics (LQA&E) in-person training certification of any youth that had certified in 2018 and 2019 so they will be able to use their full three fair season eligibility. We will also be extending by one year the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) computer-based training certification of any youth that had certified in 2020 so they will be able to use their certification for the 2021 state level shows.

Youth who certified in LQA&E in 2017 or before and youth that have not yet certified in any livestock quality assurance training and want to be eligible for state level shows must certify this year in either LQA&E or YQCA.

If you have any questions about your certification and eligibility please contact your local Extension Educator

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