This website is your doorway to exploring many career options that may be new to you. You might just find your perfect career here at the Cultivate a Career booth at the North Carolina State Fair.

The Cultivate a Career booth is located between gates 1 and 2 in the Agriculture Today exhibit, near Dorton Arena. The exhibit will be open from 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. daily, except on the opening day of the fair when the exhibit opens at 4 p.m.

Cultivate a Career focuses on one of the 16 career clusters in which all careers can be classified.

You can investigate the careers within each of the 7 career pathways that fall under the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources career cluster.

After completing a career interest assessment, you can view a list of careers that match your career interests. You can even select both a career pathway and a career interest to shorten your list of possible careers.

Once you have your list of careers, you can change the sort order by selecting one of the column headings.

More information about each career can be found by selecting the name of the career.

Start with a Plan

A Career Plan gets you started on your way to cultivate a productive and rewarding career. After assessing your interests and skills, then explore the careers found here.

Take a career interest assessment. Then explore careers that match your interests.

Download the paper version of the Interest Profiler (PDF 60kb)

Download the Cultivate A Career activity sheet (PDF 180kb) and document your career search.

Explore Careers

You can see ALL of the careers by immediately selecting the Search button.

The Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Career Cluster

This career cluster can be divided into the following seven career pathways.

Agribusiness Systems
	People who work in the Agribusiness Systems career pathway coordinate all activities that contribute to the production, processing, marketing, distribution, financing, and development of agricultural commodities and resources. This includes food, fiber, wood products, natural resources, horticulture, and other plant and animal products and services. Agribusiness is a high-tech industry that uses satellite systems, computer databases and spreadsheets, biotechnology, and many other innovations to increase efficiency and profitability.
Animal Systems
People who work in the Animal Systems career pathway work to develop better, more efficient ways of producing and processing meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products. They study genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth, and development of domesticated farm animals. Some individuals inspect and grade livestock food products, purchase livestock, or work in technical sales or marketing. Others advise agricultural producers on how to properly upgrade animal housing facilities, lower mortality rates, handle waste matter, or increase production of animal products, such as milk or eggs. Animal care workers train, feed, water, groom, bathe, and exercise animals. They also clean, disinfect, and repair their cages.
Environmental Service Systems
	People who work in the Environmental Service Systems career pathway are involved in water and air pollution control, recycling, waste disposal, and public health issues. Environmental engineers and technicians conduct hazardous-waste management studies, evaluate the significance of the hazard, offer analysis on treatment and containment, and develop regulations to prevent mishaps. They design municipal sewage and industrial wastewater systems. They analyze scientific data, research environmental projects, and perform quality control checks.
Food Products and Processing Systems
People who work in the Food Products and Processing Systems career pathway discover new food sources, analyze food content, and develop ways to process, preserve, package, or store food according to industry and government regulations. They create new food products to meet consumer needs and inspect food-processing areas to ensure that sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management standards are met.
Natural Resources Systems
	People who work in the Natural Resources Systems career pathway help develop, maintain, and manage the forest and natural environment, as well as catch and trap various types of marine life for human consumption, animal feed, bait, and other uses. Forest and rangelands supply wood products, livestock forage, minerals, and water; serve as sites for recreational activities; and provide habitats for wildlife. Conservation scientists and foresters manage, develop, use, and help protect these and other natural resources.
Plant Systems
People who work in the Plant Systems career pathway study plants and their growth. This helps producers of food, feed, and fiber crops continue to feed a growing population while conserving natural resources and maintaining the environment. Individuals in this pathway also develop ways to improve the nutritional value of crops and the quality of seeds. They use genetic engineering to develop crops that are resistant to pests and drought.
Power, Structural, and Technical Systems
	People who work in the Power, Structural, and Technical Systems career pathway apply knowledge of engineering, hydraulics, pneumatics, electronics, power, structures, and controls to the field of agriculture. They design agricultural structures as well as machinery and equipment. They develop ways to conserve soil and water and to improve the processing of agricultural products.