MQA for 2020
MQA (Meat Quality Assurance) is offered as a Virtual Training.
>> The goal of this team was to create an online version of the required MQA training for you to take from your homes at your own convenience. We understand that learning from a screen is a lot harder than learning in person. To help with those barriers, we have developed this training to be self‐led at your own pace. Members may take 10 mins to do a couple sections and then take a break or spend the full time to complete all 10 lessons at once.
>> Each lesson is followed by a review question found in the quiz section. You must complete each section and quiz before going to the next.
>> Once you complete this training and the reviews (quizzes), there is a link to the Colorado 4-H Online MQA Test. You must take this test and pass it with 80% in order to consider your training complete. You must also fully complete the training modules.
For more information, instructions and log-on information
Boulder County 4-H members, please complete by May 15th.
Browse 4-H Livestock Information by Species:
General Livestock Information & References:
Livestock Manuals
4-H Animal eRecords
4-H Animal Project Manuals
Exhibitor Information On Biosecurity
Know About Biosecurity & Protecting the Livestock at the Boulder County Fair
Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Information (Update 7-8-19)
Please see the following information from State Extension Veterinarian Dr. Ragan Adams regarding recent confirmed cases of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) in Colorado and nearby states. VSV most often affects horses, cattle and swine but can also affect mules/donkeys, bison, sheep, goats and camelids. The link below also contains information about signs of VSV and biosecurity strategies that should be observed by our 4-H members, families and volunteers with Horses and Livestock. Common Sense Practices for Livestock
Premises ID
Every animal (except dog and rabbit) must have a Premises ID (Colorado Location Identification) Register your property. If you are not keeping your animal on your property, the property where it is kept must have a Premises ID.
- excerpt from the 2018 Boulder County Fairbook, pg 13 – “All entrants for livestock exhibited in 4-H/FFA breed or market competitions, including horses, shall provide a premises registration number. Rabbit and dog entrants are excluded.“
Tag-In Updates
When preparing for animal tag-in remember to list all animals on the same nomination sheet, adding a second sheet when necessary. The cost is $3.00 per animal. Remember your Premises ID.
Swine Tag-In, Saturday, May 6th, 8:00 am – 11:00 am, south parking lot of the Fairgrounds
Goat and Sheep Tag-In, Monday, May 8th, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Barn B
Colorado State Fair Nomination Forms
- 2019 Market Turkey Nomination Form
- 2019 Market Rabbit Nomination Form
- 2019 Market Chicken Nomination Form
4-H Livestock Members – Check your Feed!
A new rule for all livestock producers will go into effect January 1, 2017. These new regulations are implemented by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are known as Guidance 209. This guidance applies to antibiotic use in all market animals. Be sure to check out the handouts:
Plan ahead for the management of your animals and check to see if you have previously used feed with antibiotics in the ingredients. If you have questions, just ask!
Dairy Heifer Replacement Program (DHRP)
Boulder County 4-H gives you the opportunity to be able to raise/buy a dairy replacement heifer (DRH) that you can sell at the Livestock Market Sale at the county fair. It’s simple, just look over the following rules, and apply. For any further questions or dairies willing to work with members call: Tina Pohlmann (303) 828-3789.
MQA/Animal Care Training
In order to be eligible to show livestock at the Boulder County Fair, members must attend an MQA training during their first year showing livestock, and again, during their first year showing as a Senior (4-H age 14).
MQA (Meat Quality Assurance) and Animal Care Training includes lessons, videos, activities and displays covering animal nutrition, identification, and husbandry; biosecurity and disease prevention, animal product safety and quality, ethics, health records and more. Most MQA trainings are set up as a set of stations that members and families visit at their own pace. Members complete an open book multiple choice test on these topics to complete their training.
Livestock Includes:
- All Fowl projects (Ducks, Egg Production, Game Birds, Geese, Market, Pigeons, Show Birds, Turkey)
- All Lease-An-Animal projects
- Alpaca/Llama
- Dairy Cattle
- Dairy, Fiber and Pygmy Goat
- Guinea Pig (Cavy)
- Market/Breeding Beef, Goat, Poultry, Rabbit, Sheep, Swine and Turkey
- Pet Rabbit
The ONLY animal projects exempt are: Horse and Dog.
Questions? See the Junior Livestock Fairbook at BoulderCountyFair.org and click on Exhibitor, or Contact the Extension office at 303-678-6238.
Go to the MQA/Animal Care Training Calendar
4-H Livestock Scholarships
Boulder County Fair Jr. Livestock Sale Committee Scholarship
For members having sold a project in the Boulder County Fair Jr. Market Sale for three years. Please note the process has changed to be an online submission of your scholarship application and materials. You will need a copy of your most recent high school and/or college scholarship. The online form can be submitted here and the deadline is May 1st.
Boulder – St. Vrain Valley Farm Bureau Scholarship
Application to include:
- The official application form
- Two letters of recommendations
- High School, College or Trade School transcript
- Explain how you have been involved in agriculture
Download information, criteria & application
American AgCredit – AgYouth Program
Download Application & More
The AgYouth Program provides interest-free loans to purchase and care for livestock projects by FFA and 4-H participants nine years of age or older as of the beginning of the Fair year, and who demonstrate a “C” average or better in school. Project limits for replacement heifers or markets steer’s is $1,500 and $500 for all other project animals. Each student must keep accurate records available for American Ag Credit to review. At the end of the project, or when the animal is sold, funds must be repaid with full accounting. Brochures and applications to participate in this program are available at the Boulder County Extension Office. The application can also be found at American AgCredit by clicking “Ag Youth Program” located on the homepage. Applications must be submitted no later than 60 days prior to the applicable fair and a parent and adult Club supervisors must sign as well.
Boulder County Fair Junior Market Livestock Sale
TBD
There is a “Mail – in Add – on” form for the Boulder County Fair Junior Livestock Market Sale. Additional contributions and add – ons are now easy and a great way to increase the total sale of a market livestock project. This can be done with the new “Mail – in Add – on” form. Market Livestock project can be promoted to businesses, individual acquaintances, family or anyone else that lives close or far and may not be attending the BCF Market Sale. All they need to do is complete the form and mail the form with their check. The add – on amounts received through the mail will be credited directly to the total sale of the 4-H member’s market livestock project. Click green “Mail In Add-On Forms” title above to download the form. Add – on forms will also be available at the sale.
Marketing Your 4-H & FFA Livestock Animal Project
A Tutorial for 4-H and FFA Members & Parents
Boulder County Fair Livestock Premium Book
Showing at the Boulder County Fair? Get to know your Premium Book!
Entries for the Boulder County Fair will be opening up in the following month and all fair exhibitors are required to know and follow the Boulder County Fair Rules found in the fair premium book. Livestock Premiums will be available this month on the Boulder County Fair website on the Exhibitors page www.bouldercountyfair.org.
Pay close attention to the third section called 4-H and FFA General Livestock Rules. This section includes information on eligibility, record books, ownership, and tag-in. All market animals need to see the Market Sale Rules and everyone should check out each of the species departments that you plan to show under.
The Boulder County Fair will be here before you know it!
Fitting & Showing Cattle Videos
To help answer many questions on how to prepare cattle for the showring, the American Angus Association produced a two-part video for its junior members. Please contact the 4-H Agent for these links.
Boulder County Fair Animal Superintendent Information
Superintendents are volunteers of the Boulder County Fair Board. Application are to be returned to the Boulder County Fair Office.
Application is available from the Boulder County Fair Office: info@bouldercountyfair.org or call 720-864-6460
Pen-A-Pig at the Boulder County Fair
- Information Flyer
- Application
