The following career exploration days cover a wide variety of careers within the agriculture, food, and natural resources pathway.
Put yourself on the path to achieving your goals. Career fields in this pathway include: conservation, agriculture sales, veterinary medicine, precision agriculture, agronomy, landscaping, heavy equipment mechanics, natural resource preservation, and much more!
Explore the opportunities listed below, when you find the career exploration event you'd like to attend, write down its name so it is handy when you fill out your application.
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 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! Will be held February 10, 2025. Cap of 24.
Come experience a day of learning how careers in agriculture have an impact on the future of feeding the world. You will understand the educational requirements needed in the fields of agricultural research, seed manufacturing and operational leadership. Discover more about Bayer’s cutting-edge product development, from research to creating a final hybrid. If you are interested in crop science, supply chain manufacturing or people leadership, this would be a great opportunity for you! Cap of 20.
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! Held April 29, 2025. Cap of 10.
Interested in a hands-on career where every day brings something new? Explore jobs such as water treatment and management, wastewater treatment and management, landscaping and ground maintenance, equipment maintenance, and general public works that are available within a Municipal Public Works Department. Public Works is a broad category of infrastructure projects conducted by a local government for health and safety, recreation and economic benefit for the greater community. Two locations will be visited during this shadow. Locations are 2 miles apart so students will need to be able to transport themselves from one location to the other.
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.
Learn about fruit and vegetable production including topics such as crop planning, soil management, beneficial insect habitat, cover crops, and much more. Get hands-on volunteer experience on the farm. Students will assist with planting in the fields, seeding in the greenhouse, harvesting, washing, packing and sorting produce for distribution, and support other field work we are doing at that time of the season. Cap of 10.
Explore the available STEM careers in the agriculture sector. If you know you’re interested in agriculture but you just want to know what opportunities are available, then this is the perfect job shadow for you. Learn more about becoming an agricultural or environmental engineer, agronomist, and livestock specialist. Hosted in April or early May 2025 at the ISU research farm in Crawfordsville. Cap of 10.
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.
Hosted by Kirkwood’s Veterinary 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. Cap of 40.
If you are a First Time User follow these instructions.
If you are a Returning User filling out a new job shadow application follow these instructions.
If you have already started applying, you may simply continue your existing application.