Indiana’s next generation of leaders is getting a serious boost—thanks to an initiative from Indiana 4-H. It’s called the “Beyond Ready” program, and it’s designed to prepare young people for the real world long before graduation day.
On the latest episode of the 4H4U Podcast, I was able to speak to Indiana 4-H College and Career Readiness Specialist, Jennifer Abrell about the program.
“Beyond ready is a national 4-H initiative. And the idea is to prepare youth nationwide to be ready for life, ready for work. It’s part of, a 4-H growth strategy. In terms of not just growing the program, but growing young people. So in Indiana, we have embraced the Beyond Ready initiative and in fact, rolled out beyond ready to our local educators statewide at our youth staff conference in September.”
The new program focuses on practical life and career skills—everything from communication and teamwork to financial literacy, problem-solving, and professional readiness. Organizers say the goal is simple: help teens build the confidence and competencies they’ll need whether they choose college, a trade, or head straight into the workforce.
“What we hope to do is strengthen the connection between the skills they learned there and how those will translate into life. How they will become better human beings, better employees, be able to, be leaders in their communities.”
One big emphasis is hands-on experience. Participants take part in workshops, mock interviews, leadership challenges, and even community-based projects that mirror real-world work environments.
And for many young Hoosiers, “Beyond Ready” is becoming more than just a program—it’s a launchpad into adulthood.
Find the entire 4H4U Podcast here:
