COLLEGE STATION – Starting in 2012, Quality Counts verification will be required for all youth exhibiting livestock — market and/or breeding — at major livestock shows in Texas, according to Kevin Chilek, Texas AgriLife Extension Service 4-H specialist in College Station.

The shows that will require the verification are the Fort Worth Livestock Show, San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Star of Texas Fair in Austin, San Angelo Livestock Show, Sandhills Stock Show in Odessa, State Fair of Texas in Dallas, and Heart O’ Texas Fair in Waco, Burkham said.

The verification process will require junior exhibitors to pass an online test that measures their knowledge on quality assurance and character education content items, Chilek said.

To learn more about Quality Counts including the verification process, please visit: http://qualitycounts.tamu.edu/.

“The Quality Counts Program has now been in existence statewide for six years,” said Angela Burkham, AgriLife Extension 4-H specialist in Amarillo. “Over this time, it has reached an average of 30,000 youth per year through the 4-H and FFA programs.”

The program outcomes clearly demonstrate youth being more knowledgeable of best management practices associated with livestock projects, she said. More importantly, the program’s impact has demonstrated positive changes in personal character attributes as well as adoption of livestock best management practices.

Over these six years, Quality Counts has been supported and endorsed by every major livestock show in Texas, Chilek said.

“These livestock shows have been instrumental in helping market the program statewide and have also been a strong partner regarding the educational content developed for the Quality Counts Program,” he said.  “In addition, these livestock shows have fully endorsed this verification process.”

A verification number will be needed at the time of making an official entry into a Texas major livestock show, Chilek said. Thus, youth will need to have completed and passed the test before the major livestock show’s entry deadline. A passing score has been determined to be 80 percent.

Youth educators and the major livestock shows in Texas believe strongly in Quality Counts, Burkham said. Collectively, they are confident that this significant step of requiring youth to be Quality Counts verified will strengthen and enhance the youth livestock program in Texas.

For more information, contact an AgriLife Extension county agent or agricultural science teacher.