1. Become a County Extension Agent An exciting, challenging and stimulating career! Improving Lives. Improving Texas.

2. Become a County Extension Agent The name may be new, but Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has provided informal education to Texans for 100 years. Formerly known as Texas Cooperative Extension, the agency's name was changed in 2008 and in 2012 to better reflect the mission of service to all Texans.

3. Become a County Extension Agent Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is a part of the Texas A&M System And, in partnership with: – Texas county commissioners’ courts – the federal government through USDA – and, in collaboration with many public and private agencies and organizations

4. Become a County Extension Agent The Texas A&M System includes: –Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service –TAMU (7), PVAMU & the Coop. Ext. Program, Tarleton State –Texas AgriLife Research –Texas Engineering Extension Service –Texas Engineering Experiment Station –Texas Forest Service –Texas Transportation Institute –Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab –Texas A&M Health Science Center

5. Become a County Extension Agent The Vision –To be the premier 21st Century outreach and continuing education organization in Texas responding to the needs of the people.

6. Become a County Extension Agent The Mission –To improve the lives of people, businesses and communities across Texas and beyond through high quality, relevant education.

7. Become a County Extension Agent As a County Extension Agent, you are and educator and you will represent: –Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service –Texas A&M System –United States Department of Agriculture

8. Become a County Extension Agent As a County Extension Agent, you will function as a collaborator with: –your county commissioners’ court –elected and appointed officials –a host of agencies that partner with us continuously or on a short term basis –stakeholders

9. Become a County Extension Agent Why Extension? –Extension provides research-based information and education in each of the state's 254 counties. –Issues are determined by local citizens through an ongoing needs assessment process that ensures the development of relevant programs.

10. Become a County Extension Agent County Extension Agents provide research and educational resources The broad categories are: –agriculture and natural resources –family and consumer science, –community and economic development, –4-H and youth development.

11. Become a County Extension Agent Traditional Agriculture

12. Become a County Extension Agent Horticulture

13. Become a County Extension Agent Marine Science

14. Become a County Extension Agent Family & Consumer Sciences

15. Become a County Extension Agent Community Development

16. Become a County Extension Agent 4-H and Youth Development

17. Become a County Extension Agent Notable programs include: –Walk-Across-Texas & Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes –Better Living for Texans & Expanded Nutrition Program –Health Education Rural Outreach & Sports Nutrition –Fire Ant Management & Boll Weevil Eradication –Ranch-to-Rail & Egg-to-Chick –FARMAssist (Financial & Risk Mgmt. Assistance) –Money 2000 Plus & 1 st Time Home Buyers –Master Volunteer Programs & Jr. Master Gardeners –Backyard Basics

18. Become a County Extension Agent Audiences include: –Families and individuals –4-H club members and other youth –Older adults –Educational, civic and other organizations –Extension support groups –Farmers and ranchers –Web brousers and mass media clientele –Anyone, everyone!

19. Become a County Extension Agent Educational methods include: –Home and commercial visits –Result demonstrations and applied research –Mass media - newspaper, television, radio –Technology - TTVN, centras, teleconferencing –Short courses, workshops and clinics –Email, letters, leaflets and newsletters –Exhibits and audio/visual presentations –Websites and interactive video

20. Become a County Extension Agent The Extension benefits: –Competitive salary –Continued professional growth & opportunities –Diversity in work assignments –Annual leave, sick leave and paid holidays –Group insurance and long term care –State workers’ compensation –Texas teachers retirement and SSI

21. Become a County Extension Agent Qualifications: –Bachelor’s degree required/Masters preferred –GPA of 2.5+ on a 4.0 scale –Self-starter, motivator –Desire to work with people –Ability to cooperate as a team member –Desire to grow as an Extension professional –Character and personality to merit public trust –Neat, well groomed professional appearance

22. Become a County Extension Agent Remember! Educational programs of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age or national origin. The Texas A&M System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners’ Courts of Texas Cooperating. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, Acts of Congress of May 8, 1914, as amended, and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the USDA, Douglas Steele, Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, The Texas A&M System

23. Become a County Extension Agent If you would like to know more about a challenging, rewarding career as a county Extension Agent, contact: –Web:http://extensionemployees.tamu.edu http://greatjobs.tamu.edu –Write:Jennifer Humphries, Chief Human Resources Officer 600 John Kimbrough Blvd., 2147 TAMU Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2147 –Email: jmhumphries@ag.tamu.edujmhumphries@ag.tamu.edu –Phone: 979.458.7810

24. Become a County Extension Agent Questions? Edited by: Vincent Mannino, County Extension Director – Fort Bend Co.