COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio 4-H youth development program of Ohio State University Extension will be one of the first 4-H programs in the nation to offer high school students a work ethic certification.

The work ethic curriculum was designed by Mike Rowe, best known as the host of television’s Dirty Jobs. The curriculum will be offered under the Ohio 4-H Pathways to the Future initiative. Ohio high school students will have the opportunity to learn about the importance of work ethic, personal responsibility, delayed gratification and a positive attitude when it comes to future employment.

“In 2008, Mike Rowe saw a need to connect with a skilled workforce and offer youth the opportunity to engage with the demand for a career in the trades,” said Margo Overholt-Seckel, program manager for Ohio 4-H Workforce Development and Pathways to the Future. “His foundation created the MRW Work Ethic Certification.”

The Ohio 4-H Pathways to the Future approach meets 4-H youth where they are and provides awareness, exploration and prepared experiences to help youth find their own career pathway. Youth will engage in specialized events, activities and curricula focused on career exploration and career readiness. In the end, the program helps youth successfully transition to post-high school learning experiences in the workforce. Parents also have an opportunity to engage in conversations about the admission and financial aid process and other topics to support their child’s career aspiration.

Four Ohio 4-H professionals completed the training and can now offer the work ethic curriculum. Several other 4-H and community development Extension educators and professionals are in the process of completing the training.

Students who complete the program will receive a nationwide industry credential that demonstrates their ability to be an asset in the workplace. As an initial test, the certification was offered to a limited number of students virtually on Mondays and Wednesdays from Sept. 18 to Oct. 4.

“As more Ohio State University Extension personnel become certified facilitators, we will also offer in-person trainings,” Overholt-Seckel said.

The root of this effort got started when Rowe created the mikeroweWORKS Foundation to launch a national public relations campaign for skilled labor. When Rowe started the foundation, he wanted to find a way to articulate the qualities he values most. Rowe ended up writing the Skills and Work Ethic Aren’t Taboo (SWEAT). The SWEAT program consists of 12 statements that outline the importance of four pillars – work ethic, personal responsibility, delayed gratification and a positive attitude.

Each statement has a story, and each story comes from Rowe’s personal experience working with entrepreneurs and hardworking people across the country. The 4-Hers are then provided with lessons: Attitude of Gratitude; Pursuit of Happiness; All Jobs are Opportunities; Bring your Passion; Deplore Debt; Safety is My Responsibility; Distinguish Myself; No Whining or Complaining; Lifelong Learning; Choices; Not Circumstances; The World is Not Fair; and Work my Butt Off.

Since 2021, Ohio State University ATI was among the first 20 colleges in the nation to offer the Work Ethic Certification, and the first in Ohio.

For the second straight year, the mikeroweWORKS Foundation offered $1 million in scholarships to 200 high school students.