Dr. Jerry Newman
Washington State University

Nationally, quality assurance is an integral part of most successful businesses today and the livestock industry is no exception. Meat animal quality assurance is a program in which producers take steps to ensure a wholesome food product that consistently meets or exceeds consumer expectations. Youth producers must learn that there are short and long term moral, ethical, legal and economic responsibilities to humanely produce a wholesome, high quality food product for consumers.

The objectives of the project were as follows:

1. All states will have access to a youth quality assurance and animal care literature database.

2. 4-H and FFA youth exhibitors participating in market animal and dairy projects will enroll in and complete the Youth Quality Assurance and Animal Care Program

3. 4-H, Livestock and Dairy Extension Agents, Agricultural Education Instructors, and local County Fair personnel in Washington, Ohio and Oregon will be trained to use the Youth Quality Assurance and Animal Care Program.

4. At least 10 counties in Washington and Oregon, and five counties in Oregon will implement the Youth Quality Assurance and Animal Care Program.

The primary audience for the project was youth in Washington, Ohio, and Oregon who were involved in beef, sheep, swine and dairy projects. Parents were also included as a target audience. Extension faculty, Agricultural Education Instructors, and 4-H volunteers were primarily responsible for educating the youth, and received intensive training using the curriculum. Livestock show audiences were indirect recipients of program information through observation of youth exhibitors.

Implementation of the program was a four-step process. A technical team of animal scientists, veterinarians, and youth educators developed the subject matter and the experiential learning experiences to assist youth in learning the subject matter of quality assurance issues. A curriculum materials service was contacted to print and distribute the materials. Training sessions were developed for extension agents and volunteers. A copy of the curriculum, video and Learning Lab Beef kit was distributed to each state prior to a national satellite telecast to introduce the curriculum.

Evaluations from the states involved indicate the impact of the program has been great. Over 700 adults have been either trained or introduced to the materials. Each of these adults will be directly training youth or having an indirect impact, such as at county fairs. To date more that 900 curriculum packets that include 750 beef, sheep, swine and dairy learning lab kits have been sold.

Each Quality Assurance curriculum packet contains an educator’s guide that includes background information activities (hands-on and experiential), discussion questions and video segments. The educator’s guide with accompanying video has six units divided into two levels. The first level is designed to teach a basic level of understanding and is appropriate for all grade levels. The second level contains concepts designed to teach the more advanced youth.

The six units in the program are:

1. Attitudes and Responsibilities toward Animals

2. Animal Handling

3. Housing of Livestock

4. Livestock Feeds and Feeding

5. Animal Health

6. Public Perception of Animal Agriculture

The curriculum and leaning lab kits can be purchased from Curriculum Materials Service, The Ohio State University at 614-292-4848 or fax: 800-292-4919