Assistant/Associate/Extension Agent (Horticulture)

Louisiana State University • 0101 Sabine Parish Extension Office, LA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

This is a non-tenure-track, agent-level faculty position with a 100% appointment in Agricultural and Natural Resources, based in the Sabine Parish Extension Office in Many, Louisiana. The position has general extension agent responsibilities, primarily focused on horticulture. Sabine Parish’s agricultural economy includes poultry, timber, beef cattle, dairy, honey, home gardens, nurseries, and commercial horticulture.

The agent will identify clientele needs, develop and deliver research-based extension programming, evaluate programs, and report accomplishments and impacts annually. Programming may cover commercial and consumer horticulture, including demonstration gardens, commercial vegetable demonstrations and field days, home gardens and grounds, and fruit production. The agent will disseminate LSU AgCenter recommendations, contribute to the assigned parish webpage, assist with pesticide recertification and other trainings, and provide educational programming and support for youth livestock programs.

The position also involves participation in community and parish agricultural organizations. The agent is expected to pursue professional development, stay current with relevant research and its application, work cooperatively with extension faculty at parish, regional, and state levels, and perform other assigned duties. The agent works under the administrative supervision and direction of the parish chair and regional director. Some overnight travel and evening and weekend work are required. A personal automobile and appropriate insurance coverage are required; a travel allowance is provided. A specific three-credit graduate-level extension course must be completed during the second or third year of employment before promotion eligibility to associate agent. A faculty member without a related master's degree must also complete 12 additional hours of related graduate coursework for promotion, which must occur within the first seven years of employment; additional agent experience may substitute for those 12 hours, but not for the required course.

A satisfactory pre-employment background check is required. The position is available upon completion of the selection process. Applications are due November 23, 2026, or until a suitable candidate is identified.

Requirements

• Baccalaureate degree in education, vocational education, agricultural sciences, family and consumer sciences/human ecology, biological or social sciences, recreation and leisure studies, or a closely related area.
• For a bachelor's degree, an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale and, if graduate work has been attempted, a graduate GPA of at least 3.0; alternatively, a master's degree with an overall GPA of at least 3.0 or a current GPA of at least 3.0 on at least 12 graduate credit hours.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work with and through others and to function with minimum supervision.
• Willingness to travel overnight as needed and work evenings and weekends.
• Personal automobile and appropriate insurance coverage.
• Complete one specified three-credit graduate-level extension course in the second or third year of employment, before promotion eligibility to associate agent.
• If lacking a related master's degree, complete 12 additional hours of related graduate coursework for promotion to associate agent within the first seven years of employment; additional agent experience may substitute for these 12 hours, but not for the required extension course.
• Satisfactory completion of a pre-employment background check.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in one of the listed fields.
• Experience recruiting, training, and supervising volunteers.
• Experience teaching and applying leadership development principles to youth and adults.
• Knowledge of public relations.
• Ability to cope with change.

Responsibilities

• Establish advisory committees for horticulture and related focus areas to identify clientele needs.
• Develop extension programming, implement program evaluation, and report accomplishments and impacts annually.
• Provide stakeholders with research-based horticultural information and educational opportunities through on-farm visits, demonstrations, workshops, field days, and other meetings.
• Develop and deliver commercial and consumer horticulture programs, potentially including demonstration gardens, commercial vegetable demonstrations and field days, home gardens and grounds, and fruit programs.
• Disseminate LSU AgCenter recommendations and contribute to the assigned parish webpage.
• Assist with pesticide recertification and other trainings.
• Provide educational programming and support for youth livestock programs in Sabine Parish.
• Participate in community organizations and parish-level agricultural associations.
• Continue professional development and remain current with agriculture and natural resources research and its application.
• Work cooperatively with extension faculty at parish, regional, and state levels and perform other tasks assigned by supervisors.

Benefits

• Retirement benefits.
• Multiple medical insurance options.
• Supplemental insurance options, including dental, life, long-term disability, accident, vision, and long-term care insurance.
• Tax Saver Flexible Benefits Plan for certain childcare and medical expenses.
• Fourteen university holidays per year.
• Annual vacation and sick leave benefits.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Possible educational leave and tuition exemption for coursework at campuses of the LSU System.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level