Agriculture OPT Jobs in Kentucky
F-1 OPT agriculture jobs in Kentucky span crop science, livestock management, and agribusiness operations across the state's major farming regions. Large employers like Mountaire Farms, Tyson Foods, and the University of Kentucky's agricultural divisions regularly hire OPT-eligible candidates. Lexington and Bowling Green are strong starting points, with additional opportunities in rural counties where Kentucky's tobacco, horse, and grain industries concentrate.
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Get Access To All JobsEnvironmental Scientist
Company: Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc.
Locations: Louisville, KY
Work Site: On Site
Req ID: 224970
Position Overview
Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc., a Davey company, is seeking a highly motivated Environmental Scientist, Ecologist, or Biologist to join our growing team in Louisville, Kentucky. This position will support a multi-disciplinary team that is at the forefront of developing innovative restoration approaches. The right person for this position will have a passion for restoring degraded streams and wetlands, proven problem-solving abilities, and excellent communication skills. The role will be a mixture of fieldwork and office-based work.
Job Duties
The ideal candidate will work on all aspects of stream and wetland restoration; specific responsibilities will include:
- Travel to restoration sites throughout Kentucky. Travel to other states may be required
- Installation, maintenance and analysis of sensor networks
- Vegetation surveys and vegetation community mapping
- The development of geospatial data and maps, including survey activities using handheld and GNSS receivers
- Bat roost tree and habitat surveys
- Stream and wetland delineation and quality assessment
- Mapping exotic/invasive species and coordinating with subcontractors for maintenance activities
- Contributing to project proposals, mitigation plans, reports and presentations
Qualifications
Education and Qualifications:
- Minimum of a four-year degree in environmental science, biology, ecology, conservation, or related fields.
- Demonstrated ability to perform professional ecological monitoring, with consulting experience preferred
- Native plant identification knowledge preferred
- Strong technical and quantitative skills
- Excellent writing and critical thinking skills
- Willingness to spend long days in the field, over rugged terrain, and in inclement weather
- Valid driver's license and have a good driving record.
Additional Information
What We Offer:
- Paid time off and paid holidays.
- Opportunities for advancement.
- All job specific equipment and safety gear provided.
- 401(k) retirement savings plan with a company match.
- Employee-owned company and discounted stock purchase options.
- Group Health Plan.
- Employee Referral Bonus Program: Send-A-Friend.
- Locations throughout the United States in major cities and desirable areas.
- Career Development Program supported by industry expert safety specialists and skilled trainers.
- The Davey Tree Family Scholarship for children of employees.
- Charitable matching gift program.
- All listed benefits available to eligible employees.
Company Overview
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP, a division of The Davey Tree Expert Company, is a leader in the natural resource, environmental, and forestry consulting industries throughout the United States.
Divisional Overview
The Davey Tree Expert Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected class, including race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, marital or familial status, disability, status as a protected veteran, status as an Aboriginal or Indigenous person, or other classification protected by law.
Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc., a Davey company, provides a full range of natural and cultural resource consulting services and is based in Gainesville, Virginia. The Davey Tree Expert Company provides research-driven tree services, grounds maintenance and environmental consulting for residential, utility, commercial and environmental partners in the U.S. and Canada. We care about our clients, each other and the world around us. We offer the resources, size and stability of a big company while maintaining the culture, entrepreneurial spirit and feel of a small one. We invest in our employees by offering industry-leading training, technology and benefits that lead to a rewarding and safe work experience at all levels. Wherever you want to grow your career, there’s a place for you at Davey. To learn more, visit Davey.com.
Accommodations: If requested by employee or otherwise as required by law, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
If you need assistance at any time, please contact us at 1-877-411-7601 or at Recruiting@davey.com.
Employment Type: Permanent
Job Type: Full Time
Travel Expectations: Up to 25%
Environmental Scientist
Company: Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc.
Locations: Louisville, KY
Work Site: On Site
Req ID: 224970
Position Overview
Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc., a Davey company, is seeking a highly motivated Environmental Scientist, Ecologist, or Biologist to join our growing team in Louisville, Kentucky. This position will support a multi-disciplinary team that is at the forefront of developing innovative restoration approaches. The right person for this position will have a passion for restoring degraded streams and wetlands, proven problem-solving abilities, and excellent communication skills. The role will be a mixture of fieldwork and office-based work.
Job Duties
The ideal candidate will work on all aspects of stream and wetland restoration; specific responsibilities will include:
- Travel to restoration sites throughout Kentucky. Travel to other states may be required
- Installation, maintenance and analysis of sensor networks
- Vegetation surveys and vegetation community mapping
- The development of geospatial data and maps, including survey activities using handheld and GNSS receivers
- Bat roost tree and habitat surveys
- Stream and wetland delineation and quality assessment
- Mapping exotic/invasive species and coordinating with subcontractors for maintenance activities
- Contributing to project proposals, mitigation plans, reports and presentations
Qualifications
Education and Qualifications:
- Minimum of a four-year degree in environmental science, biology, ecology, conservation, or related fields.
- Demonstrated ability to perform professional ecological monitoring, with consulting experience preferred
- Native plant identification knowledge preferred
- Strong technical and quantitative skills
- Excellent writing and critical thinking skills
- Willingness to spend long days in the field, over rugged terrain, and in inclement weather
- Valid driver's license and have a good driving record.
Additional Information
What We Offer:
- Paid time off and paid holidays.
- Opportunities for advancement.
- All job specific equipment and safety gear provided.
- 401(k) retirement savings plan with a company match.
- Employee-owned company and discounted stock purchase options.
- Group Health Plan.
- Employee Referral Bonus Program: Send-A-Friend.
- Locations throughout the United States in major cities and desirable areas.
- Career Development Program supported by industry expert safety specialists and skilled trainers.
- The Davey Tree Family Scholarship for children of employees.
- Charitable matching gift program.
- All listed benefits available to eligible employees.
Company Overview
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP, a division of The Davey Tree Expert Company, is a leader in the natural resource, environmental, and forestry consulting industries throughout the United States.
Divisional Overview
The Davey Tree Expert Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected class, including race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, marital or familial status, disability, status as a protected veteran, status as an Aboriginal or Indigenous person, or other classification protected by law.
Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc., a Davey company, provides a full range of natural and cultural resource consulting services and is based in Gainesville, Virginia. The Davey Tree Expert Company provides research-driven tree services, grounds maintenance and environmental consulting for residential, utility, commercial and environmental partners in the U.S. and Canada. We care about our clients, each other and the world around us. We offer the resources, size and stability of a big company while maintaining the culture, entrepreneurial spirit and feel of a small one. We invest in our employees by offering industry-leading training, technology and benefits that lead to a rewarding and safe work experience at all levels. Wherever you want to grow your career, there’s a place for you at Davey. To learn more, visit Davey.com.
Accommodations: If requested by employee or otherwise as required by law, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
If you need assistance at any time, please contact us at 1-877-411-7601 or at Recruiting@davey.com.
Employment Type: Permanent
Job Type: Full Time
Travel Expectations: Up to 25%
OPT Agriculture Job Roles in Kentucky
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Search Agriculture Jobs in KentuckyAgriculture OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Kentucky: Frequently Asked Questions
Which agriculture companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in Kentucky?
Kentucky's largest agriculture employers with OPT hiring history include Mountaire Farms, Tyson Foods, and Perdue Farms in poultry processing, along with major grain cooperatives and horse farm operations concentrated in the Bluegrass Region. University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture, Food and Environment also hires OPT students in research and extension roles. Sponsorship availability varies by position, so confirming OPT authorization directly with each employer's HR team is important.
Which cities in Kentucky have the most agriculture F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Lexington leads for agriculture OPT opportunities, driven by the University of Kentucky's research programs and the surrounding Bluegrass horse industry. Louisville offers agribusiness and food processing roles given its logistics infrastructure. Elizabethtown and Hopkinsville see activity in poultry and grain operations. Western Kentucky counties near Paducah also have openings tied to soybean and corn production. Rural postings are common, so geographic flexibility broadens your options considerably.
What types of agriculture roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship?
Roles that align with a degree in agricultural science, animal science, food science, or agribusiness tend to qualify for F-1 OPT. In Kentucky, this commonly includes crop research technicians, livestock nutrition specialists, agricultural data analysts, food safety coordinators, and agronomy associates. Field-based manual labor positions generally do not qualify. For STEM OPT extension, roles must fall under eligible CIP codes, so confirming your degree classification with your DSO before applying is advisable.
How do I find agriculture F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Kentucky?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students searching for OPT-eligible jobs, including agriculture roles in Kentucky. You can filter by visa type and state to surface positions where employers have sponsored F-1 workers before. Beyond Migrate Mate, attending the University of Kentucky's career fairs and connecting with Kentucky's agricultural extension network can surface unadvertised openings. Targeting employers with existing OPT infrastructure significantly improves your chances of a smooth sponsorship process.
Are there any Kentucky-specific considerations for F-1 OPT sponsorship in agriculture?
Kentucky's agriculture sector is heavily tied to tobacco, equine industries, and poultry processing, which shapes the types of OPT-eligible roles available. Many positions are located in rural areas, which can affect housing and transportation planning. The University of Kentucky and Kentucky State University both have active international student populations with DSO offices familiar with agriculture-related OPT documentation. If your role qualifies as STEM OPT, the 24-month extension window is particularly relevant given the longer hiring cycles common in agricultural research.