Earlier this month, more than 150 4-H and FFA members attended the 13th annual Custer County Youth Animal Quality Assurance Training, hosted by Adams Land & Cattle and Nebraska Extension in Custer County. Merck Animal Health and Boehringer Ingelheim joined as sponsors.
“All youth animal exhibitors are required to complete the Animal Quality Assurance Training each year prior to the Custer County Fair. This training gives youth the skills necessary to raise livestock in a way that ultimately produces food of the highest possible quality for consumers,” said Extension Educator, Troy Walz.
Topics of this year’s event included daily observations and animal welfare, biosecurity, and food safety.
Ashley Nicholls, founder of REACH Agriculture Strategies, held a presentation on ‘Low Stress People Handling’.
“This program shows the real power of community engagement in the beef industry,” said Nicholls, speaking to the event as a whole. “There is a real commitment in Custer County to developing youth in agriculture and ensuring the sustainability of the industry in the future. The event was a pleasure to be a part of, and I want to thank the group for inviting me to speak.”
Volunteers were also on hand, guiding attendees through interactive stations and reminding of the importance of thorough, daily checks of their livestock to ensure health and well being. Biosecurity and proper personal protective equipment use importance were also highlighted. Additionally, attendees learned the importance of safe dosages and injection routes for livestock vaccinations and medications as they relate to food safety.
“In partnering with Extension and sharing our collective knowledge, we hope to reinforce with 4-H and FFA members the importance of how their animals are raised. Custer County should be proud of these youth and their animals that are taken to fair,” said Amy Staples, Director of Regulatory and Compliance & Research and Development for Adams.
