1. Cooperative Extension Agent By: Dr. Frank Flanders and Asha Wise Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office Georgia Department of Education June 2005 Agricultural Careers

2. Job Description Work through land-grant colleges and universities in almost every county/community in the nation Organize and conduct cooperative extension programs to help farmers and individuals engaged in agri-business in the application of agricultural research findings Provide public education in many areas of study as well as help to improve agricultural production and rural life Provide educational outreach programs in fields of study relevant to their local communities Provide programs in agriculture, rural and economic development, youth development and family and consumer sciences Provide opportunities to educate the general public on the latest scientific research and to help those individuals understand and apply that knowledge Activities could range from helping someone save a tree in their front yard to helping a farmer preserve or expand an orchard.

3. Plans, develops, organizes, and carries outs training programs in subjects such as home management, horticulture, and consumer information Prepares newspaper articles on subjects of interest to local producers and consumers Conducts or coordinates special educational classes for community members Interprets research results relevant to the local community Coordinate services with those offered by other departments, agencies, and organizations in the community Teaches improved methods for agricultural production Leads workshops for groups such as dairy farmers, grain producers, and beef, poultry or swine producers Coordinates programs for youth through the 4-H Determines program needs by monitoring trends and issues Designs programs to meet needs of target audiences Maintains knowledge of current research information Recruits and utilizes volunteers Duties & Responsibilities

4. Qualities and Skills An individual interested in becoming a cooperative extension agent should: Enjoy working with people Be empathetic to problems that people and communities may be trying to solve Be able to handle numerous tasks at once and be able to work under some pressure Possess strong leadership qualities and a desire to educate others Have integrity, as well as patience and persistence Must have pesticide certification to work with pesticides or people who will be using them No special licensing requirement for this career field Many associations offer special certifications that are important for agents in these specialized areas of work The extension service holds many workshops and educational clinics to help extension agents stay up-to-date Special Requirements

5. Salary Varies from state to state Depends on one’s education and experience An entry-level professional with a bachelor’s degree can expect to earn an annual salary from $20,000 to $25,000 a year An agent with a master’s degree will typically earn between $27,000 and $40,000 annually Those with a Ph.D. will earn more

6. Education Agents must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in agriculture, natural resources, family and consumer sciences or a related field. Most land grant universities offer a major for extension education. A master’s degree is preferred.

7. Career Resources National Association of County Agricultural Agents 252 N. Park St Decatur, IL 62523 Internet: http://www.nacaa.com National Association of Extension 4-H Agents 1235-E. East Boulevard #213 Charlotte, NC 28203 Internet: http://www.nae4ha.org/ Joint Council of Extension Professionals Internet: http://www.jcep.org Epsilon Sigma Phi Internet: http://espnational.org/ United States Department of Agriculture Internet: http://www.usda.gov Journal of Extension Internet: http://www.joe.org/