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4-H Project Resources

All 4-H Project Resources Content

three female 4-H youth showing wool sheep

4-H Sheep & Wool Project

Do you love sheep? Well, the 4-H Sheep Animal project area might be the perfect fit for you! 4-H members can learn the aspects of caring for sheep, such as management, production, marketing, showing, and evaluation.

Youth For The Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) logo in front of a black and white image of a young girl feeding a small animal with a bottle

Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) in South Dakota 4-H resources

About YQCA – the national program
Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) is a national multi-species quality assurance program for youth ages 8 to 21 with a focus on three core pillars: food safety, animal well-being, and character development. The YQCA program is an annual certification created for youth producing and/or showing beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, meat goats, dairy goats, swine, poultry, and rabbits. The program has been designed by extension specialists and national livestock program managers to ensure it is accurate, current and relevant to the needs of the animal industry and shows, and is appropriate for youth learning levels.

Youth being fitted with a bike helmet.

4-H Bike Rodeo and Safety

Overview document including complete lesson plans for a 4-H Bike Rodeo and Safety program to make youth aware of the importance of riding their bike.

male 4-H youth showing a black beef cow

Why Tattoo Your 4-H Livestock?

Proper identification of animals helps create an honest record keeping system. With current DNA blood typing procedures animals can be identified through parentage, but when it comes to everyday practices on the farm or ranch a good tattoo can be a huge time saver in the event of a lost ear tag.

a father and son inspecting a show goat in a competition.

Bringing Home Your 4-H Goat Project

Sales and transport is a stressful time for any animal. Reducing stress factors due to transitions start before the actual purchase of your new project. Managing proper nutrition and disease management are just a couple factors to help your project get off to a great start.

female youth cooking ground beef in a frying pan

4-H Food Science Project

If you have ever baked a cake or even eaten an apple, you have taken part in food science. Food science encompasses how our body utilizes food (nutrition) as well as what changes food goes through on its way to our plates (food safety and preparation).

three female 4-H youth standing with and older adult male official

4-H Leadership Skills Development Project

The leadership skills development 4-H project area is designed for youth to identify and achieve the skills needed to be a good leader. These skills can be developed through experience in a group setting or leadership position or by participating in activities focusing on communication, organization, responsibility, and teamwork.

male youth running with a sandy-brown horse

4-H Horse Project

Saddle up for the Horse 4-H project area! Become experienced in horse nutrition, handling, safety, and care. Participate in the county horse program and show to learn riding techniques, patterns, and showmanship

male 4-h youth in a baseball uniform standing between an adult male and female during a presentation

4-H Public Speaking/Writing Project

Are you excited at the opportunity to write and share your thoughts with others? If so, the 4-H public speaking and writing project can help you learn to express yourself in a variety of ways, from speeches to written communication on topics that you love and are excited about! Let’s get started!

dense, wooded forest with a trail leading through it

4-H Forestry Project

Learn how to read the forest by identifying tree types and species in your area, how to conduct a tree survey and its uses, and the many benefits trees provide for our environment and in our daily lives.