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. Funding for the 2025 cycle totals $20,000, with individual awards ranging from $500 to $5,000 depending on project scope and budget. The grant does not allow funding to be used for administrative salaries, adult advisor expenses unrelated to youth programming, or capital infrastructure projects. Allowable costs include educational supplies, event costs, youth participant support, marketing, and the development of educational tools and resources. The application period opens on August 1, 2025, and closes on September 15, 2025, 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. Notifications will be sent in late October or early November 2025, and funding will be disbursed by mid-November. Interim reports are due in May 2026, and final reports must be submitted in November 2026. 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.