Quality Assurance

All youth who plan to enter and exhibit (breeding and market) livestock (cattle, dairy cattle, swine, sheep, goats, rabbits, poultry, alpacas/llamas) at the Shelby County Junior Fair must attend a Shelby County Quality Assurance (QA) program or successfully “test out” of the program. At least one parent or legal guardian must also attend a QA program. Exhibitors and parent/legal guardian do NOT have to attend the same program.

Attendance at a QA program by the exhibitor and a parent/legal guardian is required each year unless the exhibitor meets the “test out” requirements.

All of the QA programs will be for swine and general livestock exhibitors. Every session will certify or re-certify youth swine exhibitors under the Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQAPlus) Program. The programs do NOT meet adult PQAPlus certification requirements.

Exhibitors and parents/legal guardians must attend an official Shelby County Fair Board sponsored QA program. Youth/adults will not satisfy Shelby County Junior Fair QA requirements by attending quality assurance programs held outside of Shelby County or conducted by another organization.

QA programs will be held in Shelby County shortly after the Fair (Quality Assurance and Carcass Review) and the following spring. The Quality Assurance and Carcass Review (QACR) held after the Fair will feature the most valuable meat cuts from the Grand and Reserve Champion animals from the Fair. These cuts will be on display and will be graded and evaluated by specialists. Attendance in the program will certify exhibitors for QA for the following year’s Fair.

Participants must be prompt and stay for the entire program to meet the attendance requirement. It is the responsibility of all participants (youth and parents/guardians) to sign-in on registration sheets, to complete all required paperwork, and to have that paperwork signed by the appropriate officials before leaving the program. The exhibitor and/or parent/legal guardian must arrive before the review of the ten good production practices is completed and be seated by the time the first speaker begins. Late arrivals will not receive their QA certification and must arrange to attend another session in order to exhibit at this year’s Fair.

Youth who do not follow these requirements WILL NOT BE PERMITTED to enter or exhibit at the Shelby County Junior Fair or the Ohio State Junior Fair. If participants arrive late at the QA program, or leave early, this attendance requirement will not have been met.

2008 Remaining QA Dates

General Session:

• Sunday, April 20, 2-4 p. m., Ft Loramie High School. Testing begins at Noon.

Make Up Session:

• Wednesday, May 21, 6:30-8:30 p. m., Ag Service Center Meeting Room. $25 per person fee. Participants will view 2 hour video from August Quality Assurance/Carcass Review.

New Exhibitor Session:

• Wednesday, May 21, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Livestock Complex, Shelby County Fairgrounds. This session will feature a tour of the fairgrounds, discussion on what to bring to the Fair, Skillathon introduction, and QA certification. For parents and youth who are first time exhibitors at the Fair.
  

Test-Out Option

There is a QA “test-out” option for exhibitors age 12-14 (Intermediate) or 15-18 (Senior). Youth exhibitors who pass the test will be exempt from annual QA re-certification until they move to the next age bracket or until they are no longer eligible to exhibit in the Junior Fair (When they are nineteen years of age or older on January 1st.)

Tests will be administered two hours prior to regularly scheduled QA programs in August and April. Official state-approved tests will be used. Each test includes 50 questions, 35 of which must be answered correctly to pass.

Tests can only be taken once each program year. Exhibitors who show both large and small animal species may choose to take either the large or small animal test. Parents/legal guardians of exhibitors who have successfully tested out will also be exempt from the QA recertification until their child moves to the next age bracket.

Note: Several of the county’s FFA advisors may elect to administer the QA tests at school. Check with your FFA advisor to determine if such testing will be offered at your school

Carolyn Belczyk
Extension Educator
4-H Youth Development