NEW Quality Assurance Certification Requirement for All Delaware State Fair Market Animal Exhibitors!

Beginning with the 2019 Delaware State Fair, all junior exhibitors showing a market animal (steer, market lamb, market goat or market hog) will be required to have a current quality assurance certification in order to exhibit in a market class at the Delaware State Fair.  The Swine Department will accept either an existing Youth PQA certification that is still valid through July of 2019 or a current Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) certification. The Youth PQA program no longer exists to train new youth or recertify. The YQCA program is a national certification that now covers all livestock species with a single certification for all youth ages 8-21 nationwide. Program ages are calculated as of January 1 of the current year. Options for obtaining a qualifying quality assurance certification in order to be able to show a market animal at the 2019 DSF are:

• Ages 5-7– 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 with their 5-7 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 5-7. An email address is required.
• Ages 8-18– The youth exhibitor must have a current YQCA certification obtained either through an 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 as 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 … For youth age 8-12, parents are required to register their youth on the YQCA website. 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 an 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:

May 23, 2019– Sussex County YQCA Classroom Training- Carvel Center 6:30-8:00 pm

May 29, 2019- NCC YQCA Classroom Training- New Castle County Extension Office 6:30-8:00 pm

June 12, 2019 – FINAL YQCA Classroom Training- Kent County Extension Office- 6:30-8:00 pm

If you choose a classroom training option, you may attend class in any of the locations. If you plan on attending any of these sessions, please RSVP to Susan Garey (302)730-4000 or truehart@udel.edu at least three days prior so that there will be adequate materials. If there are no registrations in advance, the class will be canceled. Please contact Susan Garey if you have any questions or concerns in regards to PQA/YQCA certification needs as we transition to this new quality assurance certification requirement for all market animal exhibitors.

Stock Show University- Coming to Queen Anne’s County 4-H Park in May!
Presented by Sullivan Supply, Stock Show University is a FREE, educational program open to all stock show youth and adults, compliments of Sullivan Supply. Stock Show University offers different types of clinics for cattle, sheep, goats and hogs. Clinic types that are offered: one or two hour demos, one-day grad programs and the more intensive, two-day grad programs.  The best and most talented ‘professors’ in the industry will focus on all areas needed to achieve the championship look such as: daily care, clipping and fitting, showmanship, nutrition and selection. Stock Show University hosts clinics at numerous locations and shows across the United States, Canada and Australia. Stock Show U is coming for a two day program at the Queen Anne’s County Park- May 4 and 5^th for beef, sheep, goats and hogs. More information and registration is available online https://www.sullivansupply.com/event/maryland-two-day-4-species-grad-program/ For questions please contact Taylor Harrison taylor@sullivansupply.com

2019 Delaware State Fair Livestock Tagging Dates
Tagging dates for market lambs, market hogs, market goats, market steers and feeder calves for the 2019 Delaware State Fair are: 

• Saturday, May 4, 9 am-11 pm – Steve Cook’s Farm 3300 Frazer Rd. Newark  (NC County)
• Saturday, May 4, 9 am- 11 am – Georgetown Research and Education Center (Sussex County) Georgetown is not capable of weighing steers or feeder calves but can still tag. If you wish to compete in Sussex Rate of Gain and weigh your cattle you must go to a Kent tagging date.
• Saturday, May 11, 9 am- 11 pm – Delaware State Fair (Kent County)
• Friday, May 17, 6 pm- 9 pm- Delaware State Fair (Kent County Jackpot Show and County 4-H Show Participants Only)
• Tuesday, May 21, 5 pm- 8 pm – Delaware State Fair (Kent County)

 If you choose to participate in the 4-H/FFA Rate of Gain Contest sponsored by the Delaware Farm Bureau, you need to attend the tagging/weigh in for your county.  If you choose not to participate in the 4-H/FFA Rate of Gain Contest you may tag at any of the three locations regardless of what county you are enrolled in.  Please see the guidelines for the 2019 4-H/FFA Rate of Gain Educational Contest for further details. http://extension.udel.edu/4h/projects-activities-for-members/4-h-animal-science/

2019 Youth Livestock Conservationist Program
Sponsored by the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival

Youth interested in applying for the 2019 Youth Conservationist Program

• Must be between 9 and 18 years old.
• Submit an application postmarked by April 1, 2019 that includes:
  • An essay which introduces you, your experience with animals, if for any reason, the animal is not being kept at your own home, explain, in detail where it will reside and what exactly your responsibilities will be, your essay should explain your interest in sheep, and answer the question: “Why I would like to help preserve a heritage breed of sheep.”
• Each applicant must include a letter of recommendation from
  • Their 4-H Advisor, FFA Advisor, veterinarian, teacher or clergy.
• The total application/essay should be no more than 2 pages in length. The applicant should indicate if they wish to be considered for a specific breed or for any of the breeds available.
• The application must include address, phone and if available, email address. Interested young people should contact Elaine for an updated list of breeds available, then submit their letter of application/essay to:

Elaine Ashcraft, 46118 CR 58 Coshocton, OH 43812

740.622.1573 tankewe_cr58@yahoo.com

please note the underscore between tankewe and cr58!

ALL ESSAYS MUST BE MAILED, WILL NOT ACCEPT EMAILED ESSAYS!

Requirements if selected:

• Must be present to receive the ewe at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival on Sunday

May 5, 2019.

• Must exhibit the ewe at least twice in 2019 at: 1) a county fair or local sheep show and 2) the State Fair in the state where the recipient lives.
• Must breed the ewe to a registered ram (of her breed) in the fall of 2019, should consult the donor breeder for their recommendations.
• Must either use the ewe’s fleece to personally make a wool item or sell the fleece to a spinner, felter or weaver.
• Must submit an article the following Feb/Mar to their local newspaper covering their year and including information concerning the next year’s YCP program.
• Must submit a one to two-page report, with pictures, to the Donor Breeder by April 30, 2020 and provide a scrapbook to be used at the Maryland Festival which is then given back to the youth.

Any questions please contact Elaine Ashcraft 46118 CR 58 Coshocton, Ohio 43812

1-740-622-1573 tankewe_cr58@yahoo.com please note the underscore between tankewe and cr58!

Donors choose the recipients from the essays submitted by the youth.

DPI Offers College Scholarships
DPI is accepting applications for its 2019 College Scholarship Program.  Applications are being accepted for undergraduate and graduate scholarships that are available in the amount of $1,500 or more.

Undergraduate applicants must be a Delmarva resident and a student in good standing at any accredited, degree-granting institution in the United States or in the case of graduating high school seniors, accepted to an accredited, degree-granting institution within the United States.  Individuals must have an academic major in a subject matter relevant to Delmarva’s chicken industry and be planning a career in a segment of this industry.  An academic transcript must accompany each application.

Graduate student applications must meet the above criteria, with the exception of Delmarva residency.  In addition, the individual must be engaged in research that positively could benefit Delmarva’s chicken industry.

Applications must be completed and received at the following address on or before 4:30 pm on April 5, 2019:  DPI College Scholarship Program, 16686 County Seat Highway, Georgetown, DE 19947.  Applications and additional scholarship information are available from the DPI website at http://www.dpichicken.org/scholarship/  Late, incomplete, or handwritten applications will not be considered. DPI membership on the part of the applicant or his/her family is not required and has no effect on the selection process.

Delaware 4-H Equine Art Contest- Entries Due April 15
Calling all young artists!  With categories encompassing painting, pastels, charcoals, photography, pencil, pen and ink and even crayons and markers for younger youth there is something for everyone in the Delaware 4-H Equine Art Contest. Entries are due to county

offices on or before April 15, 2019.  Entries will be put on display by May 10th at Chick’s retail store in Harrington, Delaware.  Contest guidelines and entry information is posted on the State 4-H website. https://cdn.extension.udel.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/28151743/2019-Delaware-4-H-Equine-Art-Contest.pdf

Dairy Leasing Agreements Due to County Offices May 1
2019 Delaware Youth Dairy Leasing Agreements must be turned in to county offices for county agent signatures or to Susan Garey by May 1.  Copies of dairy leases will be forwarded on to the Delaware State Fair.  The leasing agreement is posted on the state 4-H webpage under the “Dairy” heading. http://extension.udel.edu/4h/projects-activities-for-members/4-h-animal-science/ This is the only version of a leasing agreement that is accepted for Delaware shows.

National 4-H Dairy Conference Applications Due May 1
The 2019 National 4-H Dairy Conference is September 29- October 2, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin.  The conference is for 15 to 18 year-olds who have participated in the 4-H Dairy Program for at least three years, who are currently enrolled in 4-H and have an interest in the dairy industry.  The Delaware 4-H Foundation provides funding for two delegates and one chaperone each year.

The conference will be held concurrently with the World Dairy Expo.  National 4-H Dairy Conference delegates may not participate in the National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest or exhibit cattle at the World Dairy Expo due to time constraints.  You may not have previously attended National 4-H Dairy Conference.  For more information on National 4-H Dairy Conference please visit https://national4hdairyconference.org

The updated application is available on the State 4-H Animal Science webpage at http://extension.udel.edu/4h/projects-activities-for-members/4-h-animal-science/ and is due to Susan Garey by May 1.

Final Delaware Junior Dairy Futurity Payment Due May 1
The third payment for futurity animals entered for the 2019 Delaware Junior Dairy Futurity is due May 1 to volunteer Charmayne Busker.  Calves MUST be exhibited by a Delaware State Fair Junior Dairy Exhibitor. Leased animals are eligible and an exhibitor must be named on the last entry on May 1, 2019.  For more information please consult the 2019 entry form posted on the State 4-H animal science page at https://cdn.extension.udel.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/21084712/2019-Delaware-Youth-Dairy-Futurity-Entry-Form.pdf or email Charmayne Busker cpbusker@gmail.com

 1^st State Livestock Jackpot Show- entries due May 1
Entries are open for the 1^st State Livestock Jackpot Show. In its 22 year, this is an open market preview show so there are no age limits on participation.  Grand Champions of each species are awarded $500 and reserve is $250 with breed champions paid $100 and reserves paid out at $50. Put on annually by the Kent County 4-H Livestock Advisory Committee, proceeds from this show are used to fund Kent County livestock educational activities such as livestock judging, the county livestock show and the livestock overnighter. Early entry postmark deadline is May 1 and late entries including the day of the show are double fee.  For complete rules and entry information please visit:

https://cdn.extension.udel.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/30103913/Jackpot-show-entry-form-2019.pdf

Tufts University Adventures in Veterinary Medicine Camp
Do you know an aspiring veterinarian? Adventures in Veterinary Medicine (AVM) is a fun and engaging career exploration program for middle and high school students who are interested in pursuing a veterinary career.  AVM attendees will explore the wide variety of opportunities available within veterinary medicine and see first-hand what attending veterinary school is really like. Sessions include lectures by Tufts faculty and vet students, interesting laboratories, demonstrations, and hands-on activities with animals. AVM is held on the beautiful campus of the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, located about 40 minutes west of Boston in North Grafton, MA.

Applications for summer 2019 are now available! For more information on the program, including dates, eligibility, and tuition please visit the AVM website or contact us at AVM@tufts.edu.

2019 State 4-H Avian Bowl Study Sections
The Avian Bowl is a knowledge based quiz bowl style competition that focuses on poultry and eggs and poultry industry topics.  The 2019 Delaware 4-H Avian Bowl will be Saturday July 27th at 1:00 pm in the Centre.  All questions and answers will come from the following material in the 2016 version of the Avian Bowl Manual:

• Avian systems (Only Circulatory, Nervous, Excretory, Muscle and Skeletal) – pages 39-40
• Breeds, varieties, and strains (AOSB and Miscellaneous only) – Pages 79-80
• Raising game birds (All) – pages 81-99
• Eggcyclopedia (Eggs from A-Z through Chantilly Meringue) AND (Sabayon sauce through Zeaxanthin) – pages 103-110 and 145-151B
• Raising your home flock (All) – Pages 151C-161 • Contributions of poultry to the development of science (All) – Pages 169-170
• Avian influenza (All) – Pages 181-182

For more information on the Avian Bowl please consult the contest rules and guidelines which can be found on the State 4-H Animal Science webpage:

https://cdn.extension.udel.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/10135448/Delaware-4-H-Avian-Bowl-Rules-and-Guidelines-2019.pdf

New Castle County Summer Classic Livestock Show
The New Castle County 4-H and FFA 18^th Annual Summer Classic livestock show will be held on Saturday June 8^th at the Delaware State Fairgrounds and includes market and showmanship classes.  Entry information https://cdn.extension.udel.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/26102722/Current-Class-List.pdf and an entry form https://cdn.extension.udel.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/26102724/Entry-Form-2019.pdf are posted on the State 4-H animal science webpage.

The entry fee is $8.00/head and postmark entry deadline is Friday May 10. Late entries are accepted at double fee but no entries will be after May 31.

Invitational County 4-H Livestock Judging Contest Qualifier- June 7
The Kent County 4-H Livestock Advisory Committee along with the NCC 4-H Livestock Show Committee and Delaware FFA will be hosting an invitational livestock judging contest Friday, June 7^th beginning at 6:30 pm in the Kent building on the Delaware State Fairgrounds. New Castle, Kent and Sussex County
4-H will be using this as their county qualifier for livestock judging at the Delaware State Fair.  Delaware 4-H members must participate in this contest in order to be eligible to judge at the 2019 State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest at the Delaware State Fair. If you are from another 4-H group or an FFA Chapter you are welcome to come and utilize the classes as a workout.  Official placings will be provided to everyone but you must bring your own judging supplies and provide your own listener for oral reasons if you are from FFA or an outside 4-H group.  Please come dressed appropriately and prepared with a clip board, paper and a pencil. Ice cream social to follow.  Awards will be presented prior to the start of the livestock show on Saturday morning.

Harness Racing Camp at Harrington Raceway- June 15-17, 2019
This camping program is designed to give young people aged 11 to 17 the opportunity to work with race horses. Through a partnership with the Harness Horse Youth Foundation (HHYF) and Harrington Raceway, participants will be provided lots of hands-on activities as well as the chance to learn about the sport of harness racing and the racing industry.  This camping experience will held at Harrington Raceway and overnight accommodations are provided in the State Police Barracks located on the Delaware State Fairgrounds. The registration fee is $250 per participant and includes meals and expenses for the camp.  Registration deadline is May 15, 2019.  For more information and a registration form please visit:

https://www.hhyf.org/schedule-applications.html

 There are additional summer learning opportunities being offered through HHYF at other locations.  If you are a past Harrington Camp participant interested in the HHYF Leadership program, please visit the HHYF website above for more information. The Harness Horse Youth Foundation is a charitable 501 (c) 3 organization dedicated to giving young horse lovers the opportunity to learn about driving and Standardbred horses. The Foundation has been making a difference in young people’s lives since 1976 and our programs include interactive learning experiences with race horses, equine scholarship administration, and creation and distribution of educational materials related to harness racing.  For more information on the HHYF and its programs please visit https://www.hhyf.org