Post Rock District Crop Production 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.

• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of research-based educational programs related to crop production. Programming may include but is not limited to: crop marketing and management; tillage, planting, and variety selection; weed, disease, and pest control; soil testing and fertilization; harvesting and post-harvest handling; and irrigation.
• Collaborate with other Post Rock District agriculture and natural resources agents to provide general agricultural programming on topics like agricultural economics, farm management, and agriculture safety.
• Share responsibility for 4H youth development programming for school-aged youth. This will entail efforts to meet local (county-level) programming needs and to support district-wide youth programs related to agronomy and environmental sciences.
• Engage in 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 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 Crop Production Program Focus Team.
• Pursue internal and external funding to support educational programming.
• Provide supervisory support for Post Rock District support staff (including office professionals and program assistants) in collaboration with the district director.
• Serve as a member of the Post Rock 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 at extension.k-state.edu.

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

Post Rock District is comprised of Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne, and Smith counties. The district's team consists of seven extension agents and ten support sta, who serve the district's 18,737 residents through dynamic in-person and digital educational outreach.

This agent will lead Post Rock District's vibrant crop production program. They will engage producers through individual consultations and agronomy educational workshops, as well as field days, featuring and demonstrating research-based on-farm best practices and economic decision-making tools.

This agent will serve the people of the Post Rock Extension District. The Post Rock Extension District has offices in Beloit, Lincoln, Mankato, Osborne, and Smith Center, KS. This agent's primary office is negotiable between Lincoln, Mankato, Osborne, and Smith Center, KS.

Work for this position is on site at an Extension office determined at time of hire and at locations throughout the district.

This position will require occasional overnight travel and is expected to host and attend events during some evenings and weekends.

Reimbursement for travel and subsistence related to achieving program objectives will be provided.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education and experience

• Bachelor's degree. The degree requirement is necessary to ensure candidates possess the specialized knowledge and skills for the role and can credibly convey research concepts required to deliver extension…