Colorado: C.S.U. Extension seeks Small Farm State Specialist

Location: Front Range – I-25 Corridor in Colorado – specific location TBD

Deadline: Noon (Mountain Time) on May 12, 2010

Colorado State University Extension is seeking a qualified applicant for a Small Farm¹ State Specialist.  This is a fixed-term, three-year, 12-month appointment.

Colorado State University is a leading public research university and the land-grant university for Colorado.  Current enrollment is more than 25,000 regular, on-campus students.  The Colorado State University campus is located in the city of Fort Collins, the county seat of Larimer County.

Colorado State University Extension is a major component of the University’s outreach organization with offices in 59 of Colorado’s 64 counties.  Through its county, state, and federal partnership Extension currently focuses its efforts in seven areas: Strong Families and Healthy Homes; Nutrition, Health and Food Safety; 4-H Youth Development; Sustainable Community Development; Natural Resources and the Environment; Clean Energy; and Competitive and Sustainable Agriculture Systems.  Working closely with local and state advisory groups to determine local program needs and direction, Extension draws on the resources of 13 different departments in five colleges to provide non-credit educational programs based on research-generated knowledge.  

The Front Range encompasses a multi-county area stretching from Douglas County on the south to the Wyoming state line on the north.  This region of Colorado offers an attractive standard of living with an abundance of recreational and cultural opportunities.  The population of the Front Range region is approximately 3.3 million which is 66% of the entire state population.

Commercial agriculture and small acreages are intertwined throughout the Front Range.  Agricultural production includes traditional agronomic crops such as corn, alfalfa, and sugar beets; commercial vegetables such as onions and sweet corn; and green industries producing nursery crops, floriculture and turf.  Livestock production, primarily beef and dairy, is widespread.  Most small acreages (less than 40 acres) are maintained as a lifestyle choice rather than managed to produce maximum income from agricultural sales.  Resource management of these acreages is crucial.

Duration: Appropriated funding for this position is limited in duration to three years from the date of hire.  This position has the potential of continuation only if other funding sources are procured.  Approval of the Extension Director will be required to continue this position beyond the three year initial duration.

APPLICATION PROCESS AND DEADLINE: All materials must be RECEIVED no later than Noon Mountain Time May 12, 2010 for full consideration.  Please submit the following via e-mail to apply:

• Cover letter
• Statement (no more than 5 pages) of how you meet all the “Required” and “Desirable” criteria listed in the Vacancy Announcement
• Resume
• Name, address, telephone, e-mail address, and your relationship to at least four (4) references
• Transcripts of college(s) course work showing degrees conferred

E-mail all materials to cepersonnel@ext.colostate.edu.   If you are unable to e-mail your materials, please call 970-491-1617 for alternate delivery methods.

For questions regarding the application process, contact 970-491-1617 or cepersonnel@ext.colostate.edu.

For questions regarding the job vacancy and responsibilities, please contact Dennis Lamm at 970-491-2074 or Dennis.Lamm@colostate.edu.

PURPOSE OF POSITION: The Extension Small Farm Specialist will serve as the primary resource for knowledge and technical information regarding business practices of sustainable production of small farm agriculture (farms and ranches) in Colorado, including the production of fruits, vegetables, flowers and other specialty crops, and/or livestock.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS: The Extension Small Farm Specialist will be housed in a CSU Extension office located somewhere along the Front Range I-25 corridor and will have Extension responsibilities statewide. This individual will be a representative of Colorado State University Extension and will work under the supervision and guidance of the appropriate Regional Director. There is also potential for an adjunct appointment in an appropriate department in the College of Agricultural Sciences upon the review and approval of the department’s faculty.

The Extension Small Farm Specialist will provide program leadership and work collaboratively with Extension agents, regional specialists, and on-campus faculty through preparing, conducting, interpreting and reporting applied research, preparing and assembling training educational materials for statewide Extension, and appropriate teaching of clientele. The Extension Small Farm Specialist will coordinate with public agencies; Extension, Experiment Station, and University faculty; as well as industry and community-based organizations in designing and conducting appropriate educational programs.

The Extension Small Farm Specialist will develop, implement, and evaluate educational curricula for use throughout Colorado related to production, financial, marketing, environmental, legal, community development, and social aspects of sustainable small farm agriculture. The Extension Small Farm Specialist will collaborate with stakeholders to develop and deliver needs-based educational programming. This individual will be expected to work with faculty and stakeholders from multiple disciplines, which interface with the target audience of small farm and ranch enterprises.

The successful candidate will:

• Develop, promote, deliver, and evaluate non-credit educational programming and information delivery to assist producers and landowners in making decisions that are economically, environmentally and socially profitable. Current topics of interest include specialty crop and livestock enterprise analysis, drought management strategies, alternative crop production, and marketing alternatives for small farm and organic producers. Appropriate educational materials to assist managers in decision making, problem resolution and adoption of best management practices may include: computer-based decision tools, online education, videos, news releases, radio programs, written materials, workshops and other technologies to help educate target audiences.
• Participate as an active member of appropriate CSU Extension work teams which are addressing issues faced by small- farm commercial producers.  These may include one or more of the following:  agriculture and business management, horticulture, agronomy, livestock, small farms, sustainable community development, etc.
• Develop, conduct, and distribute the results of applied research/demonstration trials and programs with and for producers to strengthen economic viability while maintaining environmentally sound and safe food production practices.
• Provide program and information delivery support to colleagues in specialty agriculture and business management. (This may take the form of delivering consumer or industry programming, representing CSU Extension on boards and/or in partnerships, and/or responding to requests for information in core areas of expertise as listed above.)
• Effectively communicate and coordinate resources for research and programming with faculty and personnel of Colorado State University as well as other agencies and institutions to enhance program development, delivery and evaluation. Develop financial resources to support programming efforts.
• Develop relationships with producers, agricultural businesses, USDA agency personnel, Colorado Department of Agriculture, community and commodity organizations, and others to assess conditions, define needs, and develop and deliver strategies to achieve goals and measure desired outcomes.
• Facilitate community decision makers’ and the general public’s understanding of issues related to diversity within Colorado’s agricultural industry and economic development options. Maintain active communication with key stakeholders to increase awareness and support for Extension programming. Use technology and media to deliver information and educational opportunities to Coloradoans.
• Participate in professional development opportunities as appropriate or required for the position.
• Assure compliance with civil rights and affirmative action policies including reaching out to underserved and underrepresented audiences.
• Provide leadership and assistance with other duties as assigned.

SALARY: Starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience (salary range $45,000 – $65,000).

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

REQUIRED

• Masters degree in an agriculture-related field required at time of appointment. Ph. D. preferred.
• Professional experience that demonstrates knowledge in areas such as: principles of sustainable agriculture production, business development and management principles, financial risk assessment and management, direct marketing of products, community development, and value-added concepts.
• Professional experience in assisting small producers, businesses and individuals to solve management problems in group situations as well as individually, by identifying appropriate research and adapting it to local situations and/or specific enterprises.

• Demonstrated skill working with people as individuals, groups, and staff.
• Ability to communicate (oral, written, listening and public speaking/presentation skills).
• Computer literacy as demonstrated by evidence of computer use in an educational setting.
• Understanding of different ethnic and socioeconomic audiences, a commitment to include diverse voices in program prioritization and planning, and a commitment to developing and delivering both inclusive and targeted programming.
• Evidence of drive and initiative.

DESIRABLE

• An emphasis in sustainable agriculture, small farm production, agriculture business management and agribusiness, organic agriculture.
• Academic background or work experience should also include training in communications and the behavioral sciences.
• Experience in identifying target audience needs, developing programs and evaluating impacts of programs.
• Experience and familiarity with mass media and electronic communications (TV, Internet, radio, newspapers, web sites, on-line education, etc.).
• Knowledge of and experience with methods of conflict resolution, facilitation or public issues education.
• Demonstrated experience with or commitment to developing skills in contracting, donor development, grantsmanship or cost recovery efforts.
• Experience or training in creating public awareness of programming and impacts among key stakeholders. Experience or capacity to form partnerships with agencies, commodity and producer groups to reach educational goals.
• Ability to speak Spanish.

BENEFITS: Based on full-time employment.  Twenty-four working days vacation each year, 15 days sick leave.  Enrollment in group health, life and accident insurance, various retirement plans, work injury benefits, and disability insurance are all available.

Available personal transportation required, travel allowance provided.

Colorado State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and complies with all federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding affirmative action requirements in all programs.  The Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity is located in 101 Student Services Building.  In order to assist Colorado State University in meeting its affirmative action responsibilities, ethnic minorities, women, and other protected class members are encouraged to apply and to so identify themselves.

Colorado State University Extension operates in compliance with the same laws and executive orders as the University as administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture relations.  As a part of the USDA regulations, the Extension Equal Employment Opportunity representative may be contacted at 1311 South College Avenue, Room 102, Colorado State University.

BACKGROUND CHECK: Colorado State University is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community.  To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final candidates being considered for employment.  Background checks may include, but are not limited to, criminal history, national sex offender search and motor vehicle history.

Application process and additional information may be obtained at our Web site: www.ext.colostate.edu (click on Employment) or by contacting:

Judith A. Barth, Ph.D., Assistant Director, Operations

Colorado State University Extension

4040 Campus Delivery

Fort Collins, CO 80523-4040

cepersonnel@ext.colostate.edu or (970) 491-1617

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