All youth exhibiting swine projects at the Grant County Fair and Adams County Fair must be certified in the National Youth PQA Program.  The Youth PQA program is for youth between the age of 9 and 18 and youth must re-certify annually by attending an approved Youth PQA Education program; or youth between the age of 12 and 18 may re-certify by testing at the appropriate skill level for their age bracket.

To certify by test, a minimum of 70% of questions must be correctly answered.  Once certified by test, the youth is not required to recertify in Youth PQA until the next age bracket and skill level is reached (which is usually 2-3 years).

PQA classes are offered between January and June at various locations.  Youth between 12 and 18 do not have to attend a classroom training to certify by test.  However, no supplemental information may be used during the administration of the test.

Youth between 12 and 18 wishing to take the pass-out test may take the test on Wednesdayss during the months of May and June between 1:00 and 4:00 PM at the Extension office in Ephrata.  Youth planning on taking the test at the Extension office need to call the Friday prior to testing to verify attendance.

Contact:
Sarah Smith
Washington State University
Extension Educator, Animal Sciences
PO Box 37, Ephrata, WA  98823
Email: smithsm@wsu.edu
Phone: (509) 754-2011

PQA Program information at http://www.pork.org/Certification/Default.aspx