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 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! Dec. 17 9-11AM 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.
Are you interested in farming within city limits? If so, join us at Colony Acres Family Farm in their off season to learn about their agricultural process of growing pumpkins and other crops. See the day to day tasks of running and maintaining an urban farm. Cap of 3. This job shadow will take place on a Saturday in spring 2026.
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 12.
Discover the dynamic world of the green industry at our Horticulture Sciences Career Day, hosted by Kirkwood’s Horticulture Sciences program. At this hands-on, career-focused day you can talk one-on-one with industry professionals and Kirkwood faculty, learning how science, creativity, and sustainability come together in careers that shape outdoor environments and support healthy ecosystems. Talk one-on-one with experts in golf course and sports turfgrass management, landscape design, and greenhouse management. Hear directly from current students about their experiences in their internships, tour state-of-the-art learning facilities, and get an up-close look at the tools, technology, and techniques used in today’s Horticulture industry. Held Dec. 5, 2025.
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. Held Feb. 20, 2026
Are you passionate about science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) — and curious how these fields connect to agriculture? Join us for an immersive job shadow experience at the Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm in Crawfordsville, where you'll explore real-world careers at the intersection of STEM and agriculture. Learn more about becoming an agricultural or environmental engineer, agronomist, or a livestock specialist. Hosted in April or early May 2026. 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. Held April 16, 2026.
Explore careers in Sustainable Water Management by local government for health, safety, environmental, and recreational benefit for a community. Learn how chemistry and microbiology play a key role in Public Works Careers. Learn about wastewater treatment and management and municipal water supply. See up close how wastewater is properly treated and then discharged into the environment cleaner than the stream itself. Also see how tap water is tested and distributed through a public works department. Two locations will be visited so students may need to transport themselves from one location to the other. Held March 3, 2026.
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. Held Spring, 2026. Cap of 40 per session.
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