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OSU Extension

College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

CFAES

What is Quality Assurance?

Quality assurance is a pledge or promise to 1) provide a food animal product preferred by consumers, and 2) provide a safe, wholesome food animal product. Food animals are those whose products (meat, milk, and eggs) have the potential to become part of the food chain.

Food safety is paramount to animal agriculture, assuring consumer acceptance and confidence in a market where competing proteins and other alternatives are emerging, rivaling food products of animal origin. Furthermore, issues surrounding animal welfare in agricultural livestock production have surfaced that must be addressed at all levels of food animal production, including youth participation in food animal projects.

Youth involved in food animal exhibitions, by definition, are food animal producers. Youth food animal producers, at the culmination of the project, will sell their animal(s) and food products which are intended for human consumption.

Knowledge and mastery of the science of genetics, nutrition, management, handling, and environment in relation to the youth's food animal projects play a critical role in the success of producing safe and wholesome food products for consumers. Therefore, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) mandates that all youth exhibiting food animal projects participate annually in quality assurance programming. OSU Extension provides the leadership for implementing quality assurance programs, in partnership with agricultural education and agricultural societies.

When is Quality Assurance?

Quality Assurance sessions are typically held three times per year. Mahoning County Junior Fair requires youth and their parents to attend a set number of sessions, including those that focus broadly on quality production of animal goods, as well as species-specific activities. 

2024 Date

  • Saturday, March 2, 2024 from 8am - 2pm at South Range High School
  • QA Make-Up Sessions
    • Tuesday, March 26, 2024
      • 6:30pm - 9:00pm at the OSU Extension Office, 490 S. Broad St., Canfield 44406
    • Saturday, May 11, 2024
      • 9:30am - 12:00pm at the OSU Extension Office, 490 S. Broad St., Canfield 44406

 

Can I test out of Quality Assurance?

Please see Quality Assurance Test Out for more information