4-H Volunteer Leaders

Volunteer to Help Grow True Leaders

Join the nearly 15,000 adult and youth volunteers in Wisconsin—in addition to the more than 500,000 volunteers nationwide—in supporting 4-H youth and helping them grow into true leaders.

Volunteer Opportunities

4-H has as many ways for adults and youth leaders to help as it has projects. Most of the volunteer roles fall into a few broad categories. All are opportunities to directly or indirectly support youth in growing and achieving their goals through the 4-H program.

4 H youth at a meeting 4 H staff with youth 4 H members 4 h members at an event 4 h members at a sports game
Youth Leaders Club Leaders Project Leaders Specialized Volunteers

Become a Volunteer

To volunteer, you don’t need to have previous experience working with youth. The most important qualifications are:

  • a desire to work with young people to help them learn new things and gain life skills; and
  • wanting to provide youth with positive experiences in a safe and welcoming environment.

New Volunteer Training

If you are 18 years or older and interested in becoming a 4-H volunteer, we can help. We will provide new volunteers with Volunteers in Preparation Training about how to work effectively with youth and what resources are available to volunteers. We will also ask you to participate in a Mandated Reporter Training to learn more about how to protect youth from child abuse and neglect. Finally, to ensure the safety of all youth and volunteers, a Volunteer Behavior Expectations Agreement and background check are required.

Depending on their role, some volunteers may be asked to complete subject matter specific trainings as well as training to enrich their knowledge of youth development (for example chaperones or Shooting Sports leaders).

For more information call the office at 715-539-1072 or email Holly at holly.luerssen@wisc.edu