YQCA Announces Opening of 2026-2027 Youth Ag Program Grant Applications

Overview:

• Total Award Pool: $20,000 with individual awards ranging from $500 to $5,000.

• Grants support projects that align with YQCA’s commitment to food safety, animal well-being, and character development in the livestock industry. Examples include:

  • Hands-on youth workshops with YQCA certification

  • Livestock judging clinics

  • Youth agricultural education events

  • Curriculum development, biosecurity training, and more

Who’s Eligible?

• Junior breed associations

• State species organizations

• Local, county, state, or national livestock show organizations

• 4-H Clubs and FFA Chapters

*Only one application is permitted per chapter, club, or organization per year. Must be a U.S.-based organization. 

Grant Program Requirements:

• All proposed projects should:

  • Demonstrate youth education outcomes, such as:

    • Training future producers

    • Promoting safe food systems

    • Maximizing resources in quality assurance

  • Align with at least one of the YQCA pillars:

    • Food Safety

    • Animal Well-Being

    • Character Development

• Eligible expenses include: educational supplies and curriculum materials, facility rentals, AV equipment, marketing and promotion, participant resources, instructional tools or demonstration equipment, and other approved expenses that directly support youth learning

• Ineligible expenses include, but are not limited to: staff salaries and administrative costs; adult travel; fundraising; trophies; infrastructure; professional development not tied to youth programming; and the purchase of livestock, vehicles, or personal equipment.

  
  
  
  

  Apply:

  • Timeline:

    • DEADLINE: July 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CST

    • Award notifications: November 2026

  • Application:

    • Visit https://yqcaprogram.org/local/grant_program.php

  Complete and submit the grant application through the linked platform.00.

Don’t wait—submit your application today and partner with YQCA to invest in the next generation of agricultural leaders! Funding is limited and the deadline is July 31!