Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources - Hardin County

Location: Elizabethtown, KY

Full-time position with a Monday-Friday (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) schedule, including evenings and weekends as needed. Most weeks will exceed 40 hours.

About the role

The Extension Agent for Agriculture & Natural Resources will provide leadership for educational programs in agriculture, horticulture, and natural resources for Hardin County. This role emphasizes horticulture and diversified agriculture.

Responsibilities

• Develop the agricultural and horticultural proficiency of local citizens through educational programs.
• Provide agricultural expertise to answer questions and solve problems related to agriculture, horticulture, and natural resources.
• Develop field trials, test demonstrations, and result demonstrations in related areas.
• Utilize and/or develop councils, advisory groups, and committees to facilitate community involvement in programming.
• Jointly share responsibility in community programming around issues involving leadership development, community involvement, local government, community services, and other forms of community economic development.
• Support the dissemination of useful and practical information regarding urban agricultural and environmental practices and the local food systems.
• Collaborate with other agents to support the dissemination of information on Agriculture, Family Consumer Sciences, 4-H, and Community and Rural Development as outlined in KRS statutes 164.605 to 164.675.
• Supervise staff or volunteers as needed.

Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to communicate orally and in writing with groups and individuals and through mass media.
• Ability to use computers for program delivery and management.
• Ability to visit clientele at sites throughout the county, including farms.
• Ability to plan and teach educational programs.
• Demonstrated leadership and ability to serve as a positive role model.
• Job-related travel including overnight stays; standing/walking for long periods; handling objects up to 25 lbs.
• No set minimum education or experience requirements (see preferred qualifications).
• Must pass a national and state criminal background check and a clearance from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services regarding child abuse or neglect records.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in one of the following fields:
  • Agronomy/Plant Science/Horticulture
  • Agriculture Education/Leadership
  • Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology
  • Agriculture Economics
  • Animal Sciences
  • Community and Leadership Development
  • Equine Science and Management
  • General Agriculture
  • Forestry
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Natural Resources and Environmental Science
  • Sustainable Agriculture and Community Food Systems
  • General Biology
  • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  • Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics
  • Physiology and Behavior
  • Plant Biology
• Valid driver’s license.