2025 Education Requirements are currently being posted to each species page as announced. Below is the Education Card and Horse & Pony Education Card for the 2025 Fair.
For all approved education events/meetings that occur 6/16/24 - 6/15/25, youth exhibitors will need to complete one of the education cards below per species. Make sure to bring the card with you to in-person events to collect the signature of the presenter:
The completed card for each species and YQCA must be uploaded to the online portal - CLICK HERE. Education requirements must be submitted by June 15 to show at the Dane County Fair.
EDUCATION CARD & YQCA SUBMISSION PORTAL
Information
All youth animal exhibitors planning to show at the Dane County Fair must meet species-specific educational requirements for the following departments: Dairy, Beef, Swine, Sheep, Goats, Horse & Pony, Poultry, Rabbits, Cats, Cavies (Guinea Pigs), and Small Animal Market Sale. The Dog Department has additional education organized by 4-H. Additional Information on Beef Weigh-In and Dog Meetings may be listed as well.
Requirements:
- Attend at least one approved Dane County Fair education event (4-H, FFA curriculum, WYLP, etc.) related to the species they intend to show.
- Complete and upload a separate Education Requirement Card* for each species or the Horse & Pony Education Requirement Card for approved events that occur 6/16/24-6/15/25.
- Use the Education Requirement Card with the Dane County Fair Logo, not the Youth Livestock Form found on the state online training page.
- Complete all sections of the Education Card and save as LastName.FirstName.Species.2025 (e.g.,Smith.Chris.Horse.2025) before uploading to the online portal.
- Education Requirement Cards can be uploaded as scans or high quality photos. To keep track of forms, some found it helpful to take a picture of the completed form in case the hardcopy is misplaced before the portal opens.
- Complete Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) certificate between 9/1/2024-6/15/2025. YQCA is required for youth who will show Dairy, Beef, Goats, Sheep, Swine, Poultry, Rabbits, and/or Cavies (not Horse & Pony or Cats) at the Dane County Fair. Youth can complete this certification online anytime. There is a $12 fee for the online training. YQCA is designed as an annual education and certification program focused on food safety, animal well-being, and character awareness for youth ages 8 to 21. The program has been designed by extension specialists and national livestock program managers to ensure it is accurate, current, and relevant to the needs of the animal industry and shows and is appropriate for youth.
- Complete all training, and submit education card and YQCA certificate by June 15 via the ONLINE PORTAL. Failure to submit this card by June 15 at 11:59pm will make you ineligible to show your animal at the Dane County Fair.
Below are links to the education offerings approved by the Dane County Fair for all youth groups per Department as well as information on Youth Organizations (4-H, FFA, other youth organizations), Wisconsin Youth Livestock Program, and YQCA.
Complete the form below or contact the Fair Office at info@danecountyfair.com to receive approval for educational opportunities not listed. Forms can be submitted with 30 days of the education session and by June 15.
New Education Opportunity Request Form
Fair Department Education Subcommittee
The Dane County Fair is looking for volunteers to join an animal department subcommittee to review department education requirements in June under the guidance of the Dane County Fair Education Committee and Fair Office.
Volunteers will serve as a representative of the Dane County Fair as a whole and review all youth education requirements in that department; this included 4-H, FFA, and other youth organization exhibitors. Each subcommittee will also have one representative who will sit on the Fair Education Committee and assist in reviewing Premium Book changes and other requests by Department Chairs/Superintendents and general public/youth exhibitors.
Applicants must agree to the procedure and duties for the committee listed on the Fair Education Committee & Subcommittee Duties document. Final selection is performed by the currently appointed Dane County Fair Education Committee Chair and the Fair Office.
Subcommittee members will serve one-year terms. Once the subcommittee members are selected, the Fair Office will work with each Department Subcommittee on the duties.
If you are interested being a part of one of the education subcommittees for the Dane County Fair, please complete the Department Subcommittee Interest Form - button below. For more details on the process, click the button below to view the Fair Education Committee Breakdown & Duties.
FAIR EDUCATION COMMITTEE BREAKDOWN & DUTIES PDF
Department Subcommittee Interest Form - Online
Questions? Contact the Fair Office at info@danecountyfair.com.