Youth Ag Program Grant

The Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) organization is offering the Youth Ag Program Grant to support educational initiatives that foster youth engagement in agriculture. YQCA is dedicated to advancing agricultural literacy, animal well-being, and food safety by providing structured, educational opportunities for young people. This grant is part of YQCA’s commitment to quality assurance in youth agriculture and is focused on equipping the next generation of agricultural leaders with essential knowledge and skills. This funding opportunity is intended to support projects that promote one or more of the three core pillars of the YQCA program: Food Safety, Animal Well-Being, and Character Development. Projects may include peer-reviewed curriculum for youth certification in quality assurance, biosecurity training, development of educational materials, livestock facility enhancements, or instructor training for youth-focused programming. Events such as hands-on workshops, livestock judging clinics, and certification camps are among the eligible formats. All proposals must align with the YQCA mission of supporting youth in becoming informed agricultural producers, consumers, and employees. Eligible applicants include a range of youth agricultural organizations, including Junior Breed Associations, State Species Organizations, and local to national-level show organizations. Only U.S.-based organizations may apply, and each chapter, club, or organization may only submit one application per year. Awardees from the prior year are not eligible for consecutive year funding but may reapply in future cycles. The application period closes on July 31 2026 at 11:59 PM CST. Applications must be submitted in PDF format via email to programmanager@yqcaprogram.org with the subject line “YQCA Youth Ag Program Grant Application.” Applicants are required to complete a downloadable PDF form and submit all materials in a single email. There are no pre-application steps or required registrations beyond the formal application itself. While contact information is limited in the available materials, all inquiries and submissions are directed to the designated program email address. Organizations interested in applying should ensure their project strongly reflects the YQCA mission and pillars to remain competitive in the selection process.