In 4-H, certified livestock volunteer leaders are the primary educators of youth enrolled in the 4-H livestock program. The annual state 4-H volunteer certification program empowers these volunteers, known as Certified Volunteers in Livestock (CVL), to provide educational experiences to 4-H livestock club members to teach them the life skills that are needed to succeed in their projects by focusing on topics of selection, nutrition/feeding, health/daily care, reproduction, and marketing.  The COVID-19 pandemic has limited the traditional avenues of in-person club meetings and special livestock clinics.  To remedy this, the volunteers started meeting virtually in the early months of this program year to discuss and discover virtual opportunities for club members to learn and earn their required educational hours.

As a result of their efforts, they discovered an on-line resource Iowa State University Extension’s Animal U.  The on-line program provides excellent lessons and modules that focus on the livestock industry.   It is self-directed learning that members can choose the topics he/she wishes to achieve.  At the end of each lesson, the member is quizzed and can earn a lesson-certificate that serves as their proof of participation toward earning their educational hours.

Members also participate in monthly club meetings, which are virtual too.  By holding monthly Zoom meetings, club members attend the meeting by computer or mobile device to earn one hour of credit each month.  Th CVLs teach youth about planning, responsibility, decision-making, communication, record-keeping, cooperation, and problem-solving.  The impact quantified resulted in nineteen livestock club members working toward or attaining the six or more required hours of education in their respective animal science projects. More importantly these young people are learning about their role in the agriculture industry, as well as, how to function virtually in a world dealing with an unprecedented pandemic.