uality Assurance Programs have been around for quite some time. The National Pork Board established the Pork Quality Assurance program in the 1980’s. It has evolved overtime and is now the PQA plus program. I have been a certified PQA plus trainer for 24 years. YQCA or Youth for the Quality Care of Animals is the new program. The program focus is on three main areas: Food Safety, Animal Well Being and Life Skills. This program is a requirement for all youth showing at the State Fair and Kansas Junior Livestock Show.
Food safety is important for all of us, not just the one raising the animal. Everyone wants to know we are eating a safe product. This section focuses on animal medications and proper administration of animal health products. Animal well-being helps teach the kids proper handling of animals, biosecurity, feed and water issues and facilities and equipment issues. The final section is life skills. This year it is focusing on emergency action plans and how to implement them, along with ways to positively tell the story of their livestock project and how it impacts them and the community.
I held the first training in late February and had 18 members complete it. Three more trainings are scheduled across the district. I think for me the question is always do the kids really hear what I am saying, did they truly get anything from it. I had a couple of 8 year olds take the first class. A few days after the class I had a mom come to me and tell me how much her son had learned. He had told her they had to be careful when they give medicine to an animal and make sure there was plenty of time before slaughter so the meat would be safe. That statement, made me realize, they do listen and understand the importance of what they are doing.
This past month I have also taught kids about butterflies and the migration. Several youth and adults turned out for the Youth Gardening Institute that was held district wide. A huge thank you to Jacob for planning these. Wildcat District was well represented at Regional Club Days. Spring is here so a lot is happening.
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