Area Horticulture Educator I/Production and Marketing - Southwest - Lincoln University of Missouri

Purpose:

Lincoln University Horticulture Program is hiring 6 positions (this position will work in the Springfield, MO areas) to help the farmers of Missouri grow and prosper in the Southwest, Southeast, Northwest, Northeast, and Central regions of Missouri. These are full time, benefit eligible position at the College of Agriculture, Environmental and Human Sciences. Lincoln University of Missouri. These positions are grant funded and their purpose is to implement the deliverables of the grant projects respectively titled "Enhancing the Capacity of Lincoln University through Expansion of Research, Extension, and Area of Service, and Promotion of USDA Programs" account 3718 and "Enhancing Profitability and Livelihood of Minority, Socially Disadvantaged, Veteran and Beginning Farmers & Ranchers in the "Opportunity Zones" of Missouri" account 3689.

The successful candidate is expected to work closely with and report to the State Horticulture Specialist, work from home and serve 3 counties (his county of residence + two adjacent counties), recruit a core group of 30 growers of Horticulture crops, assess their needs and determine their goals to success. The candidate is expected to conduct farm visits, conduct educational extension events (workshops, conferences, webinars, and exhibits), conduct one farm tour/year to take farmers to successful farms and USDA offices, publish educational materials in crop product ion and marketing (fact sheets, guide sheets, and posters), and USDA programs that help farmers. The successful candidate will also develop and publish a monthly newsletter, determine the areas of concerns that keep farmers from growing their businesses, collaborate with colleagues from Lincoln University, the University of Missouri, and USDA, contribute to the Missouri Agricultural Statistics Census, and develop reports on the extension activities of the Horticulture Program.

Essential Job Functions:

• Report to the State Horticulture Specialist.
• Identify horticulture producers in the served counties, develop a database for the farmers served, determine their needs and concerns, and determine goals to help them succeed.
• Recruit s core group of 30 farmers into the program to work with them one-on-one.
• Conduct farm visits, phone calls, and emails to farmers for technical support.
• Conduct educational events (workshops, conferences, exhibits, and webinars) in crop production, crop protection, marketing and USDA programs.
• Develop educational publications to help farmers learn and grow their businesses.
• Develop and publish a monthly newsletter.
• Collaborate with colleagues from Lincoln University, the University of Missouri, and USDA, and contribute to the Missouri Agricultural Statistics Census.
• Develop reports on the extension activities of the Horticulture Program.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ability to use word, Excel, and PowerPoint to develop publications, review and edit documents, develop spreadsheets, and develop presentations.
• Ability to use computer in all its functions, send, receive emails, and attach and receive attachments.
• Ability to connect on zoom, present, and meet on zoom.
• A background in Crop Production, Crop Protection, Marketing, and Farming Technology is highly desirable.
• Effective oral and written communication skills and willingness and ability to work in a team-oriented environment with a diverse group of faculty, staff, and students are essential.

Qualifications:

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Personal Characteristics

• Ability to use word, Excel, and PowerPoint to develop publications, review and edit documents, develop spreadsheets, and develop presentations.
• Ability to use computer in all its functions, send and receive emails and attach and receive attachments.
• Ability to connect on zoom and present and meet on zoom.
• A background in Crop Production, Crop Protection, Marketing, and Farming Technology is highly desirable.
• Effective oral and written communication skills and the ability to work in a team-oriented environment with a diverse group of faculty, staff, and students are essential.

Certifications, Licenses, Registrations:

• A bachelor's degree in Horticulture or related fields is required.
• A master's degree in Horticulture or related fields is preferred.
• Technical experience in Horticulture and related fields is required.
• Driving License is required.

Physical Demands:

• Light sedentary office work.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.
• Ability to sustain work outside with the farmers at the field.

This job description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of Lincoln University. Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder's responsibility.

All grant-funded positions are contingent upon receipt of funding specifically for that purpose. Note that grant funding positions terminate upon:

• completion of the term of the grant
• early termination of the grant by Lincoln University or the funding agency
• exhaustion of the available funding for the position provided for under that grant, whichever occurs first.