Posted: October 20, 2023
The 4-H Quality Animal Management (QAM) Program is changing!
Boy and his dog
What is QAM?
QAM is an educational program that focuses on animal care, animal health, and general animal knowledge. It's been a requirement for every 4-H member enrolled in an animal project to take QAM training annually. QAM used to be taught at the club level by volunteers, but it moved to a live webinar format beginning in 2020.
What's changing with QAM?
Beginning this year, QAM will once again be taught at the club level by 4-H volunteers. (Experienced teen 4-H'ers are encouraged to help!) The State 4-H Program will NOT be collecting a list of those 4-H'ers who participate in QAM--although some county 4-H Programs may continue to ask members to sign in at trainings. Clubs are being encouraged to spread QAM education out across several meetings, rather than trying to fit all of the information into just one session.
Why the change?
QAM was developed years ago, at a time when Pennsylvania 4-H needed to track youth participation in a quality assurance program in order to meet requirements from packers (processors) who bought or received animals from junior youth livestock sales. Today, that tracking need has largely disappeared.
It's still important for 4-H members to learn about QAM topics, which means that QAM education isn't being eliminated. Instead, it's moving to the club level, where members can participate in related group activities, expand their learning by taking field trips or hearing from guest speakers, and present on what they've learned. Because 4-H has attendance requirements for members, members will be at club meetings, learning the material.
Have questions about QAM? Talk to your county 4-H Educator, or reach out to 4-H Animal Science Specialist Kirsten Dubbs (kdubbs@psu.edu, or 814-865-0399).
