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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.

Diverse group of school-age children sitting on bleachers outside in 4-H clothing.; Photos; 4-H Grows Here; Brand; 4-H youth

Character Links 5 curriculum

4-H Character All Stars will implement the Character Links 5 curriculum for the 2018-19 school year. Within the curriculum five character traits are highlighted: Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, Kindness and Citizenship.

4-H member working on a robotics project

Youth Development

SDSU Extension's youth development programs help prepare youth to meet the challenges of adolescence and adulthood.

Group of volunteers working in a garden center.

Master Gardener Volunteer Program

SDSU Extension’s Master Gardener program develops gardening enthusiasts into expert volunteers who share their research-based knowledge with community members across the state.

a group of young children wearing 4-H clothing

South Dakota 4-H Cloverbud Fun Zone Newsletters

The Cloverbud Fun Zone newsletters provide hands-on activities, icebreakers, and service projects for the Cloverbud program, specifically designed for youth kindergarten through third grade.

SDSU Extension Director Karla Trautman, 2021 Inductees Audrey and Art Kneen, SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Safety Field Specialist John Keimig and South Dakota 4-H Program Director Tim Tanner.

4-H Shooting Sports Hall of Fame Honorees

The 4-H Shooting Sports Hall of Fame was started in 2015. It was created to recognize those who played a role in bringing shooting sports to the South Dakota 4-H Program and those who have helped it to grow on the state and regional levels.

Three young girls weighing sugar on a kitchen scale.

Life Skills Passport Curriculum

Curriculum to help youth and young adults learn applicable life skills.

A variety of common food allergens arranged on a table surrounded by the word “Allergy” spelled out on wooden tiles.

Programming for 4-H Members with Food Allergies

Foods to avoid and options to provide for youth with food allergies.

SDSU Extension welcomes new Moody County 4-H Program Assistant

May 16, 2024

South Dakota State University Extension 4-H is pleased to welcome Whitney Sams as the new Moody County 4-H Program Assistant.

A row of targets is full of arrows in an outdoor field

Shooting sports driving growth in SDSU Extension 4-H program

July 19, 2024

Though not a new 4-H program, SDSU Extension 4-H Shooting Sports has seen a steady uptick in interest in recent years. In 2023, the team saw one of its best showings at the 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships with a third-place finish in the team sweepstakes award. And they’re itching to go back.