2023 Quality Assurance Certification Requirement for Delaware State Fair Market Animal Exhibitors
All Delaware State Fair junior exhibitors showing a market animal (steer, market lamb, market goat, or market hog) are required to have a current quality assurance certification in order to enter and exhibit in a market class at the Delaware State Fair. The YQCA program is a national certification that now covers all livestock species with a single certification for all youth ages 7-21 nationwide. Program ages are calculated as of January 1 of the current year. Please note that starting in 2023, you must have a YQCA/BQA/PQA or DEQA certificate that is good through the end of July 2023 in order to enter a market animal in the 2023 Delaware State Fair. A copy of that certificate must be uploaded in ShoWorks at the time of entry in order for an entry to be complete and accepted. Options for obtaining a qualifying quality assurance certification to be able to enter and show a market animal at the 2023 DSF are:
• Ages 5-6- A parent, guardian, or responsible adult must have a current quality assurance certification. Options to fulfill this requirement include PQA(Pork Quality Assurance) or BQA (Beef Quality Assurance https://www.bqa.org/certification/online-certification); adult online trainings or parents can either attend a YQCA classroom training session(email Susan directly to register) with their 5-6-year-old to obtain a valid QA certification to meet the DSF requirement. Please contact Susan Garey if you would like to be granted access to the online Adult PQA certification training to cover youth ages 5-6. An email address is required.
• Ages 7-18- The youth market exhibitor must have a current YQCA certification obtained either through a YQCA classroom training session or YQCA online.
• Ages 19-21- The youth market exhibitor must have a current YQCA certification that can only be obtained online per the YQCA program rules.
Youth YQCA certification is valid for one year.
In order for youth ages 8-21 to participate in either an online or in-person classroom YQCA training session, they must register and create a profile at http://yqcaprogram.org. For youth aged 8-12, parents are required to register their youth on the YQCA website. Once a child is registered, select the appropriate class you plan to attend. Fees will be charged at the time of registration and can be paid by credit card.
The YQCA classroom training costs $3.00, and the online training costs $12.00. These fees are paid online and go directly to YQCA, even if you are attending in-person training. This should be completed prior to coming to the in-person training. Youth completing the online YQCA training will take the online module that corresponds to their age as of January 1 of the current year.
The following YQCA in-person class training dates have been scheduled for this spring:
• Thursday, April 27, 2023- UD Carvel Center- Sussex County Extension Office, Georgetown 6:30-8:30 pm- registration required in advance-must register by April 24
• Tuesday, May 2, 2023- New Castle County Extension Office, Newark, 6:30-8:30 pm- registration required in advance- must register by April 29
• Thursday, May 22, 2023- Paradee Center- Kent County Extension Office, Dover 6:30-8:30 pm- registration required in advance- must register by May 19
If you plan on attending any of these sessions, you must register in advance so that we can ensure enough space and training materials. Please contact Susan Garey at truehart@udel.edu or (302)242-1510 if you have any questions or concerns in regard to Quality Assurance/YQCA certification needs.
