North Dakota 4-H Youth Development initiative gears up to empower youth
In January, North Dakota State University Extension 4-H Youth Development announced that the Next Chapter at NDSU initiative was selected to receive a $250,000 grant from the CHS Foundation. Only one program per college was eligible to compete for the award.
The Next Chapter at NDSU initiative is a career readiness curriculum for youth as young as eighth grade. Through hands-on activities, participants explore their passions, develop critical life skills and map out pathways toward postgraduation goals.
The curriculum features 17 adaptable and updated lesson plans. Topics include goal setting, time management, resume writing and financial management. Delivered in the classroom, after school and in 4-H club settings, the program aims to prepare youth to succeed in their future careers — to be “Beyond ready,” a new initiative by the National 4-H Council to prepare youth to be healthy, productive and engaged.
“This recognition highlights our and the CHS Foundation’s unwavering commitment to empowering youth and cultivating the next generation of agricultural leaders,” says Leigh Ann Skurupey, assistant director of 4-H Youth Development.
The Next Chapter at NDSU initiative is a response to a national survey of high schoolers indicating that they do not feel prepared for a job after graduation and want an educational pathway that is shorter, more affordable and connected to a career. The program emphasizes both college and career readiness, ensuring youth are equipped to thrive in their future endeavors. It also helps connect youth and professionals to foster networking and mentorship.
Although the initiative is still in a pilot stage, the response has been enthusiastic.
“Teachers are excited about it,” says Margo Bowerman, NDSU Extension specialist for 4-H STEM. “We’re asking the schools currently teaching the curriculum to let us know how they are using it.”
Bowerman says the promotion at the North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education Conference drew over 200 educators to their booth, and that the turnout for their presentation session confirmed that this will be an attractive addition to classrooms.
A feature of Next Chapter at NDSU is the Careers in a Box resource. Designed to expand program reach and enhance youth development, Careers in a Box introduces participants to career-focused activities that provide real-world experiences.
This interactive tool connects youth to career possibilities they may have never considered, aiming to foster self-discovery and help envision a future full of opportunity. Where the Next Chapter helps create skills, Careers in a Box creates awareness of careers.
Jenna Radtke, coordinator of Next Chapter at NDSU, has helped develop new Careers in a Box to highlight specific occupations.
“I’ve been building hands-on activities to go along with individual careers and roles,” says Radtke. “‘What does a metal fabricator do?’ We have a lesson about welding. ‘What does an animal nutritionist do?’ ‘What kinds of jobs are in agricultural co-ops?’”
School has just started, so Radtke is looking forward to hearing back from the educators she’s been working with.
In addition to the CHS Foundation grant, there is an incentive program for individual counties to connect their youth with NDSU.
Radtke details the effort to incentivize NDSU Extension agents to teach or promote this curriculum:
“Thanks to Keith and Cathy Peltier’s generous support, the incentive program awards the three counties with the highest percentage of students enrolled in Next Chapter,” says Radtke. “The county with the highest percentage enrolled can earn monetary prizes which support 4-H programming at the local level. The prizes are based on the highest percentage of total youth enrolled in Next Chapter.”
An agent can even come in as a guest lecturer and teach a lesson.
The Next Chapter at NDSU initiative is meant to complement other career-readiness programming, whether in an FFA chapter or a family and consumer science course.
“We’re not here to compete with programming,” says Skurupey. “Next Chapter is an opportunity to collaborate and support alongside you.”
“The CHS Foundation is proud to support North Dakota 4-H and its Next Chapter at NDSU program,” says Megan Wolle, CHS Foundation president. “This work is both creative and grounded in research for youth development. We’re grateful for the strong program leadership that will help develop the next generation of agriculture leaders in North Dakota.”
Skurupey urges anyone interested in learning more to contact North Dakota 4-H to find out how Next Chapter at NDSU can be involved in their community.
For More Information
Margo Bowerman, NDSU Extension 4-H Youth Development STEM specialist, 701-231-5634.
Jenna Radtke, 4-H Next Chapter at NDSU coordinator, 701-231-7251.
