Youth interested in becoming certified in the quality care of livestock are invited to participate in "Youth for the Quality Care of Animals" training at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22 in the Amnicon Town Hall. The session is sponsored by the Wisconsin Livestock Program of UW-Extension. An online self-paced version is also available.
"This is a new program to educate and strengthen the youth experience of raising and caring for meat animals while promoting a higher level of consumer food safety," said Jane Anklam, UW Extension agriculture educator.
Training covers quality care of beef, dairy, goat, poultry, rabbit, sheep and swine. Participants must register online prior to the class at yqca.org. The cost for the face-to-face session is $3; online modules cost $12 per person per year.
"The class is intended for youth ages 8-18 to introduce and review best handling practices in raising livestock for show or market," said Darren Nyhus, Northwestern High School agriculture teacher and FFA adviser. "How we handle our animals plays a role in the quality of the final product."
The program will cover animal welfare, food safety and character education including goal-setting and career exploration.
