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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.

Tulips blooming near the entrance to McCrory Gardens.

McCrory Gardens Trial Report 2022

Trial report for McCrory Gardens

Teacher pouring a small amount of seed into a student's hand to construct a tiny greenhouse.

Super Seeds

Lesson for youth to explore the many types of seeds that are eaten or grown and learn how they grow.

A yellow ear of sweet corn.

Sun-Drying Corn

Fact sheet on sun-drying corn

A variety of fresh fruits and vegetables displayed on a countertop.

Solar Drying Fruit and Vegetables

Fact sheet on solar drying fruits and vegetables

A red-purple plum.

Drying Plums

Fact sheet on drying plums

Glass bowl full of freshly harvest chokecherries.

Drying Chokecherries

Fact sheet on drying chokecherries

produce growing in a collection of raised beds in a SDSU Extension community garden

Community Gardens

Community gardens, organized by SDSU Extension staff and community volunteers, bring fresh produce to many rural communities and designated food deserts across the state.

A yellow ear of sweet corn.

Using Dried Corn

Fact sheet on ways to use dried corn