Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources

From concept to finished product, Kinze Manufacturing designs and manufactures planters, grain carts, and tillage equipment at its facility in Williamsburg, Iowa. Join us as we begin our day at Kinze touring the Kinze Innovation Center, which highlights Kinze’s 60 years of innovation and the technology that is shaping the future of farming. We will also have a factory tour to observe how raw materials and other components come together to become a finished product. Throughout the day you will observe and visit with Kinze employees in the areas of welding, machining, assembly, powder coat painting, testing, engineering, sales, marketing, and many more. Join us for this unique opportunity to observe several different agricultural and manufacturing careers under one roof!

As you evaluate career options and opportunities, job security and career diversity are things you probably have on your mind. The agriculture industry provides just that! Learn how the Stutsman sales team serves diverse sectors of the agriculture industry from local farmers and livestock producers, to feed mills and feed retailers. On top of engaging with agriculture sales representatives from agronomy, feed ingredients, and manure equipment, you’ll take a tour of the Stutsman facility in Hills and hear from an agricultural marketing professional. If you are looking for a rewarding career helping people maximize their success with technology, problem solving, and communication/listening skills, make sure to join us for our ag sales discussion. Held late November or early December 2024. Cap of 9.

Have you ever wondered what types of farming exist beyond the typical farming methods? Attend this job shadow to see how this business operates for profit on a sustainable small-farm. Experience the grown-not flown flower movement by learning about what it takes to raise, harvest and pick fresh-grown flowers. Come see the beauty for yourself at Promise and Blossom!

If you are interested in Chemistry, Microbiology, and Consumer Product Testing then this day is for you! Experience the life of a quality analyst at Frontier Co-op. Learn about the main testing methods used to ensure high quality spices, culinary herbs, and essential oils. Gain insight into the diverse set of quality indicators, as well as regulatory requirements used at Frontier Co-op.  Held late September and early April. Cap of 6.

Have you ever wondered where your drinking water comes from or where we get the materials for Iowa's extensive road network? Geoscientists at the Iowa Geological Survey (IGS) utilize a wide variety of data and the latest technology to address issues related to the quality and quantity of groundwater, aggregate and mineral resources, mapping geologic hazards, and more. Come see how the staff at IGS analyze rock samples collected from the drilling of water wells. Held early-mid October. Cap of 10.

What happens in the farm fields you drive by every day? Sit in the seat and experience how grain is harvested and moves from combine, auger cart, and semi-truck, to the grain handling set up. Learn about the stages of plant development, what factors determine high yields, how to tell when a field is ready for harvest, and much more! Join local farmers/producers and feel harvest from inside the combine. Engage with the modern technology, high-tech machinery, equipment, transportation, and grain handling facilities involved in harvesting corn and soybeans. Held October 15, 2024. Cap of 20.  

Thinking about a career in Conservation? Find out what park rangers, environmental educators, natural resource managers, and conservation directors do on a daily basis. Held October 18, 2024, 9 a.m. to noon.

Hosted by Kirkwood’s Parks and Natural Resources program, learn about careers as a park ranger, park manager, naturalist and conservation officer. Hear from students currently enrolled in the program, speak with faculty teaching the classes, visit with a park ranger, park manager, conservation officer and naturalist.

Are you interested in organic food production? Learn the process for pasteurizing/processing organic dairy and natural food products at Farmers Creamery and Kalona Creamery. Gain insight on supply chain manufacturing and the unique small batch pasteurization process for our Kalona Supernatural dairy products. Learn about organic farms where the milk comes from and what happens to the products after they leave our creameries. Meet with quality managers and learn how chemical engineering plays a role in food production and quality testing. Learn about how marketing drives demand and sales for the product. Multiple locations will be visited during this shadow. Students will need to transport themselves from one location to another (six miles apart). Cap of 8.

Explore careers in Public Works which is a broad category of infrastructure projects conducted by local government for health, safety, and recreational benefit for a community. Learn how chemistry and microbiology play a key role in Public Works. Areas of Public Works include: water treatment and management, landscaping and ground maintenance, equipment maintenance, and general public works. Two locations will be visited so students need to transport themselves from one location to the other.

Do you have an interest in the environment, resource conservation, or climate action?  Learn how City of Cedar Rapids careers such as Sustainability Program Manager, Environmental Specialist, City Arborist, and Transportation Planner create sustainability products or services and/or strive to reduce the environmental impact of the City’s processes and operations.  Begin the job shadow in the City Hall Council Chambers, then take a tour outside near the river to learn about the inner workings of the flood wall and see how each career works to positively impact the environment.

Do you like the outdoors and care about our environment? Here’s your opportunity to learn how district & resource conservationists, soil conservation technicians, soil scientists, civil engineers, and civil engineering technicians work to protect and preserve nature in partnership with landowners and farmers. You may get into the field to understand the important role of these careers, and hear about strategies for improving soil and water quality.

Hosted by Kirkwood’s Animal Health Technology Program, learn about careers as a veterinarian, veterinary technician, and veterinary assistant. Hear from students currently enrolled in the program, speak with a veterinarian and experience interactive rotations including animal examinations, dental, x-ray, lab, and surgery.

Are you looking for a career where you can be out and about, not tied to an office? Do you like to be hands-on? Are you looking for a career where you can gain on the job training? Discover what it means to have a career as a heavy equipment mechanic, a fabricator (welder), a drilling service provider (for water wells) and a pump service provider. Observe a drill rig and a pump rig in action. Plus, learn about wells, aquifers and the importance of groundwater preservation. This is a full day experience from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., job sites may be visited as part of the shadow.

Also referred to as Agricultural Equipment Mechanic, Combine Mechanic or Dairy Equipment Installer. Diagnose, adjust, repair or overhaul farm machinery and vehicles such as tractors, harvesters, dairy equipment, and irrigation systems.

Sell goods to wholesalers, manufacturers or farmers. Agriculture sales representatives may sell anything from animal feed, seed, pesticides, equipment and more. Technical or scientific knowledge may be required in such areas as biology, engineering, chemistry and electronics; normally obtained from at least two years of post-secondary education.

Conduct research in breeding, physiology, production, yield and management of crops and agricultural plants or trees, shrubs and nursery stock. Study growth and control of pests; or study the chemical, physical, biological and mineralogical composition of soils as they relate to plant or crop growth. May classify and map soils and investigate effects of alternative practices on soil and crop productivity.

A conservationist works to protect animals, plants and natural resources, or to prevent the loss or waste of natural resources. A naturalist plans, develops and conducts programs to inform the public of historical, natural and scientific features of national, state or local parks.

Landscape or maintain property using tools and equipment. Workers typically perform a variety of tasks, which may include any combination of the following: sod laying, mowing, trimming, planting, watering, fertilizing, digging, raking, sprinkler installation and installation of mortarless segmental concrete masonry wall units.

Park rangers, who generally work for municipal parks departments, state parks systems or for the National Park Service (NPS), may have job duties that primarily encompass law enforcement or protective services, or they may perform duties specific to the interpretation of cultural or historic points of interest within the parks they serve. Depending on the role, they may focus on enforcing park rules and regulations, or they may spend the better part of their day assisting visitors, giving group tours and presenting visitor programs.

Diagnose, treat or research diseases and injuries of animals. Includes veterinarians who conduct research and development, inspect livestock or care for pets and companion animals.

Perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals. Prepare vaccines and serums for prevention of diseases. Prepare tissue samples, take blood samples and execute laboratory tests such as urinalysis and blood counts. Clean and sterilize instruments and materials and maintain equipment and machines. May assist a veterinarian during surgery.

Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.