Extension Agent – Meagher County

Position Summary

Position Description

General Statement
MSU Extension seeks individuals who work professionally and effectively with communities, who foster and maintain effective interpersonal relationships, who exhibit excellent written and verbal communications skills, and who can contribute positively to the people and places of Montana under the guidelines and mission of Montana State University.

Meagher County, located in south central Montana, is the center of year-round recreational activity and friendly people. The county’s estimated population in the 2024 census was 2,065, which is a 7.1% increase from the 2020 census. Meagher County, named after Montana territorial Governor Thomas F. Meagher, is 2,392 square miles in size. Beef cattle production and hay production are the primary agricultural enterprises in the county. Cash receipts from livestock production were about $31.5 million in 2015; about 40,000 acres of hay are harvested annually. White Sulphur Springs, with a population of just over 1,000 people and located halfway between Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, is the county seat with the communities of Martinsdale, Checkerboard, Lennep, and Ringling also present in the county. Meagher County has one K-12 school. White Sulphur Springs has a critical access hospital that offers emergency services, hospitalization, long-term care, and a primary care clinic. The county 4-H program includes 51 youth members, 11 adult volunteer leaders, and 2 organized clubs. Recreational opportunities include hunting, fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, golfing, camping, hiking, and mountain biking. There is a natural hot mineral spring in White Sulphur Springs which is open to the public all year. The Big Belt, Little Belt, and Castle Mountains surround White Sulphur Springs along with thousands of acres of public lands and there are several campgrounds in the nearby Lewis and Clark National Forest.
Duties and Responsibilities
Provide leadership for development, planning, facilitation, and evaluation of the Meagher County 4-H Youth Development program to foster positive youth development and volunteer recruitment and engagement toward a successful 4-H program.
Develop, plan, implement, facilitate, and evaluate successful, research-based educational programs in agriculture, family and consumer sciences, and community vitality as identified by community needs.
Collaborate with local and regional Extension staff and stakeholders to conduct continuous needs assessments to inform educational programming priorities in Meagher County and potential collaboration with other counties.
Build and maintain collaborative working relationships with peer Extension agents, Extension specialists, county commissioners, and local individuals, groups, boards, agencies, and organizations to leverage educational programming in Meagher County.
Obtain licenses/certifications and provide oversight of the local Private Pesticide Applicator and Montana Noxious Weed Seed Free Forage programs in Meagher County.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree. Demonstrated ability to lead groups; assess needs; and plan, implement, facilitate, teach, and evaluate educational programs for youth and adult audiences. Demonstrated ability to provide effective leadership for Extension programming for youth, adults, and volunteers. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively with individuals, groups, and community organizations representing a wide variety of youth and adult audiences. Demonstrated understanding of adult learning theory and its application to community-based education and outreach.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree. At least one degree or relevant work experience in youth development, education, agriculture, family and consumer sciences, or community vitality, or a related field. Demonstrated ability to facilitate groups and help them find constructive solutions to locally identified issues. Extension experience or demonstrated understanding of the Extension education model.

Other Requirements

The Successful Candidate Will Possess excellent human relation skills. Work with a high level of professionalism. Possess the ability to work effectively with other staff members. Demonstrate evidence of good judgment. Have the flexibility and innovation to respond to changing needs of people in Powell County. Possess the ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. Establish relationships and work with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Ultimately, the successful candidate will be relational, responsive, and reliable.

Travel Requirements

Frequent travel throughout the county; occasional travel throughout the state.

Driver’s license or alternate transportation required?

yes

Contact Name

Tracy Mosley

Contact Email

tmosley@montana.edu

Contact Phone

(406) 223-4727

Application Instructions

Apply online at montana.edu/extension/careers

Equal Employer Statement(s)

In compliance with the Montana Veteran's Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran's preference, please complete the veteran's preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile. Montana State University does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.

Apply for job