Horticulture Ornamentals and Turf- Johnson County Agent

Johnson County Extension employs two horticulture agents. This position supports the ornamental/turf program and coordinates the Johnson County Extension Master Gardener (EMG) program. This agent works closely with the county’s horticulture / small farms agent for programming and volunteer engagement.

• Extension agents are professional educators who serve as a link between Kansas State University and communities across Kansas. Agents are jointly responsible to the director of K-State Research and Extension (represented by a designated administrator) and the local extension board. 
• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of research-based educationalprogramming related to horticulture. Programming may include but is not limited to: home lawn care and gardening, commerical landscapes, ornamentals, trees/shrubs/flowers, turf, local food systems, and landscape maintenance and improvement.
• Direct Johnson County’s Extension Master Gardener Program, a team of approximately 492 extension-trained volunteers who do community outreach, provide horticultural education, and care for the county’s nine demonstration gardens.
• Provide primary supervision for Johnson County Extension’s part-time horticulture program assistant and Extension Master Gardeners coordinator as well as one full-time
  office professional.
• Share responsibility for community vitality programming that helps our communities become better places to live, work, and play. Programming will strengthen social, civic, economic, and technological capacity of communities through leadership development and civic engagement.

Successful extension programs require agents to:

• Identify local needs and emerging issues related to K-State Research and Extension’s five Grand Challenges (water and natural resources; community vitality; health; developing tomorrow’s leaders; and global food systems) by engaging with program development committees and other community organizations and professionals.
• Design appropriate educational strategies to engage clientele. Strategies might include educational programming in a community-based setting; events and activities that
  provide experiential learning opportunities; use of innovative technologies; individual educational consultations; and group facilitation.
• Collaborate with local partners to meet community and programming needs.
• Develop and implement strategies to serve diverse audiences and to ensure K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider of educational programming.
• Collect and communicate evidence of educational program impact.
• Cultivate expertise in a subject matter competency area by engaging as a member of the Horticulture Program Focus Team. 
• Pursue internal and external funding (including grants, gifts, and cost recovery efforts) to support and expand educational programming.
• Serve as a member of the Johnson County team, cooperating in the planning and delivery of county-wide programming and related events.