Entry-level Assistant Professor (Small Farms/Horticulture/4-H Agriculture Programs)

Overview

Department of Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources, College of Extension. Entry-level Assistant Professor (Small Farms/Horticulture/4-H Agriculture Programs).

Successful candidate for this position will be: Providing leadership to Extension activities focused in small acreage farming, horticulture, Master Gardener programs, water conservation, and 4-H Agriculture programs such as Jr.; developing, implementing, and evaluating small acreage and horticulture programs for adults; developing, implementing, and evaluating 4-H Agriculture Programs such as 4-H livestock programs for youth including 4-H volunteer recruitment and development; developing partnerships and employing innovative approaches to reach existing clientele and new audiences, such as the creation of on-line and virtual courses and use of social media platforms; working with on-campus specialists in developing applied research projects and delivering programs to clientele; pursing internal and external funding to support Extension programming; documenting impacts and producing scholarly publications based on Extension programming; managing budgets, personnel, and volunteers; partnering with and serving diverse audiences and supporting the civil rights mandates of Utah State University Extension; serving and collaborating with other Extension and University personnel, community and government agencies, and stakeholders; teaching and coordinating programs, lectures, and workshops on horticulture, gardening, small tree and bush production, vegetable production, pest management, week management and indoor plant management, as well as other agricultural and horticultural workshops; teaching and coordinating programs, lectures, and workshops with local organizations (including Healthy Kane County Foundation, Kanab Women’s Forum) to provide local producers and residents with education on horticulture, gardening, and small farming.

Responsibilities

Courses and Programs taught and coordinated include:

• Master Gardener Class, Kane County Program: The program aims to provide science-based, college-level horticultural and gardening skills. Classes include but are not limited to basic soil science, basic botanical science, fruit tree production, small trees and bush production, vegetable production, pest management, weed management, and indoor plant management.
• Healthy Kane County Foundation Community Garden Class (501-C Organization): Gardening class series on soil, water, vegetable, and ornamental plant production. 
• Kanab Women’s Forum (horticultural workshop): Workshop for women 13 years and older residing in Kane County and the surrounding area on horticulture as part of self-care knowledge.
• Amazing Earth Fest: Workshop series on knowing amending the living environments without using destructive methods or bias theory. 
• Utah State Master Gardener Conference: Workshops and demonstrations on master gardener programming at conference hosted by the Utah Master Gardener Committee for Master Gardener coordinators and master gardeners.
• Utah Small Farm Conference: Workshops and demonstrations on budgeting, pest control, and soil health at annual conference for urban small farmers who own 5 acres or less farmland with new crops (untraditional crops like corn or hay).
• Utah Fresh Cut Flower Workshop: Workshops and demonstrations on fresh-cut flowers for wholesale, florists, and farmer’s markets for small urban flower farmers.
• Southern Utah Green Conference: Workshops and demonstrations at annual conference in St. George focusing on green energy, water-wise landscaping, and water-wise life style.

 

Qualifications

Candidates must have: A Master’s degree in Horticulture, Plant Science, Agronomy, Extension education, or a related field; ability to plan, organize, and direct educational programs; experience in teaching adult audiences; excellent oral and written English communication skills; ability to act as a liaison between federal, state, university, and county clientele; demonstrated ability to work independently and as a team member; access to reliable transportation; willingness to travel through the county and state as needed. Required skills may be earned during advanced educational studies.

 

Preferred qualifications include: Prior experience and knowledge about the land grant university system; experience with program development and/or delivery related to horticulture and small farm production; experience with program development and/or delivery related to the Master Gardener program; experience with program development and/or delivery related to 4-H livestock programs; experience in volunteer recruitment and development; skills and experience with implementing applied research activities; skills and experience with grant writing; skills and experience with r