Sunflower District -H Youth Development Extension Agent

About This Role

Extension agents are professional educators, community connectors and innovators who serve as a link between Kansas State University and communities across Kansas. Agents are jointly responsible to the director of KState Extension (represented by a designated administrator) and the local extension board.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive 4H youth development program for school-aged youth in cooperation with local community members and extension colleagues. The primary focus of this position is youth development, along with adult volunteer development; youth education program development; membership growth and participation; and community partnership expansion. Programming will include but is not limited to: community club support, out-of-school programs, school enrichment, volunteer management, and outreach to create program opportunities with new and existing community partners.
• Supervise the Sunflower District 4H support team, which includes a 4-H program assistant and annual summer interns.
• Provide primary oversight for the office professional in this agent's assigned office.
• Share responsibility for community vitality programming that helps our communities become better places to live, work, and play by strengthening social, civic, economic, and technological capacity through leadership development and civic engagement.
• Successful extension programs require agents to:
  • Identify local needs and emerging issues related to KState Research and Extension's five critical issues (water and natural resources; community vitality; health; developing tomorrow's leaders; and global food systems) by engaging with program development committees and other community organizations and professionals.
  • Design appropriate educational strategies to respond to emerging needs and engage clientele by aligning with the imperatives of the KState Next-Gen Strategic Plan. Strategies might include educational programming in a community-based setting; events and activities that provide experiential learning opportunities; use of innovative technologies; individual educational consultations; and group facilitation.
  • Collaborate with local partners to meet community and programmatic needs.
  • Recruit and manage volunteers to further the reach and impact of extension programming.
  • Develop and implement strategies to serve all community audiences.
  • Collect and communicate evidence of educational program impact.
  • Cultivate expertise in a subject matter competency area by engaging as a member of the Youth Development Program Focus Team.
• Pursue internal and external funding to support educational programming.
• Serve as a member of the Sunflower District team, cooperating in the planning and delivery of district-wide programming and related events.

K-State Extension connects Kansans to research-based information and education that helps individuals, families, businesses and communities thrive. It is a partnership between Kansas State University and federal, state, and county governments. Through local extension offices, K-State Extension provides practical solutions and programs in areas such as agriculture, health, youth development, and community vitality. Learn more ate.edu.

4H provides school-aged youth with community, mentors, and learning opportunities to develop the skills they need to create positive change in their lives and communities. It is a research-based experience that helps kids and teens thrive through connection, learning, service and leadership opportunities. Adult volunteers, managed by their local 4H youth development extension agent(s), share their passions, skills and talents to empower youth to reach their full potential.

Learn more about Kansas 4H .

Extension agents are Kansas State University faculty working throughout the state to serve the needs of local communities.

The Sunflower Extension District is comprised of Cheyenne, Sherman, and Wallace counties in northwest Kansas. The district is home to five school districts and several homeschool groups. The Sunflower District's team of three extension agents and three specialized office professionals/program assistants serve the district's 10,000 residents.

This agent will lead the district's 4H program, which currently has 12 active 4H clubs with over 360 members. Local priorities include facilitating the grants, interns and volunteers that support Shooting Sports, The Garden at North Elementary school and the district's thriving community outreach programs.

This agent will serve the people of Sunflower District. The Sunflower Extension District has offices in Goodland, Sharon Springs and St. Francis. The preferred primary office location for this agent is in Goodland, KS.

Work for this position is on site in the agreed-upon primary office and at locations throughout the district.

This position will require occasional overnight travel and is expected to host and attend events…