Jacob: Owner of Homestead Pest Control
FROM farm work TO PEST CONTROL: HOW ONE professional BUILT A SUCCESSFUL career
Jacob Ivison didn’t follow a traditional path into the pest control industry. There was no job board, no internship, and no clear roadmap into the industry. Instead, he built his pest control career from the ground up—starting in agriculture, navigating a COVID-era career shift, and ultimately launching his own pest control company in January 2024.
AGRICULTURAL FOUNDATIONS THAT SHAPED HIS CAREER
Jacob grew up in Western New York working on fruit farms, where he learned the fundamentals of hard work, efficiency and responsibility. Those early years spent picking, packing, loading trucks, and doing whatever needed to be done became the foundation for everything that followed.
After high school, he entered the agricultural chemical industry, joining a company focused on post-harvest apple technology. There, he helped support the development and field application of a plant growth regulator across the Northeast, working alongside industry specialists to expand the business across multiple crops and regions.
That experience gave Jacob a deep understanding of regulated chemical application, label compliance, and environmental stewardship—skills that would later prove essential in his pest control technician career.
THE CAREER SHIFT THAT OPENED THE DOOR TO PEST CONTROL
In 2020, Jacob’s agricultural project was unexpectedly impacted by COVID-19 and came to an end with short notice. Like many professionals during that time, he pivoted quickly, taking a role as a delivery driver for an agricultural chemical supplier.
What seemed like a temporary job became a turning point.
While making deliveries, Jacob struck up a conversation with a local pest control operator who recognized his technical knowledge and encouraged him to explore the pest control industry more seriously. That operator later became his mentor, helping Jacob transition from agricultural chemical application into residential pest control.
That mentorship was the catalyst that changed his career path entirely.
BUILDING A PEST CONTROL CAREER FROM THE GROUND UP
Before launching his own business, Jacob actively pursued pest control technician jobs, applying to pest control companies as a certified applicator. He was transparent about his long-term goal of eventually starting his own company.
While that honesty limited callbacks, it reinforced his commitment to integrity and independence—values that would later define his pest control business.
In January 2024, Jacob officially launched his pest control company.
The transition was not easy, but it was intentional. He combined agricultural experience, technical training, and mentorship to build a foundation for long-term success in the pest control profession.
DEVELOPING A "SUPERPOWER" IN THE FIELD
At one of his first industry conferences, Jacob heard a concept that reshaped how he approaches his work. George Williams, ACE and Regional Manager at Nisus Corp., described pest control professionals as developing a “superpower”—the ability to enter any environment and immediately see risks, patterns and conditions others might miss.
That idea resonated deeply.
Today, Jacob applies that mindset in every inspection and service call, using his training and experience to identify issues, improve efficiency, and protect both customers and the environments he works in.
AN AGRICULTURAL EDGE
Jacob credits much of his success in the pest control industry to his agricultural background.
Years of working with regulated chemicals gave him a strong foundation in precision, safety, and compliance—skills essential for anyone pursuing pest control technician training or pest control jobs.
He emphasizes:
- Efficiency in application
- Strict adherence to product labels
- Environmental responsibility
These principles are critical in both agriculture and professional pest control careers.
MORE THAN A JOB: A CAREER IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
For Jacob, pest control is far more than eliminating pests. It is a career in public health and safety.
He is passionate about changing the perception of pest control jobs, which are often misunderstood as simple extermination work.
In reality, pest control technicians protect:
- Homes and families
- Food systems
- Commercial facilities
- Public health
This reframing is central to growing awareness of pest control career opportunities.
STABILITY, FAMILY, AND A LONG-TERM CAREER PATH
Jacob’s commitment to the pest control industry is also deeply personal. Losing his job during COVID highlighted how quickly careers can change without warning.
That experience shaped his desire to build a career with long-term stability.
A pest control career offered exactly that—an essential service industry with consistent demand, regardless of economic conditions.
For Jacob, that stability is about more than work. It is about building a future his family can rely on.
ADVOCATING FOR THE FUTURE OF THE PEST CONTROL INDUSTRY
Beyond running his business, Jacob is actively working to strengthen the pest control industry in New York State.
He has engaged with workforce development leaders to advocate for pest control to be formally recognized within state trade programs, an area currently underrepresented in skilled trades education.
His goal is simple: increase awareness, improve training pipelines, and help build a stronger, more educated pest control workforce.
“No one should be handed a sprayer without knowing what’s in it or how to use it safely,” he says. “Knowledge is what makes this industry better—for technicians and for the communities we serve.”
ADVICE FOR ANYONE CONSIDERING THE INDUSTRY
For anyone considering starting a pest control career, Jacob’s advice is simple:
"Get through the hardest days, and it can be one of the most rewarding and satisfying things you'll ever do. Help people and never stop learning."
The pest control industry is built on training, science, and service. For those willing to invest the effort, it offers a meaningful, stable, and in-demand career path.
INSPIRED BY JACOB'S STORY?
Whether you’re coming from agriculture, the trades, the military, or another field entirely, there is a place for you in pest control.
Explore pest control careers and take the first step toward a stable, purpose-driven future at pestcontroljobs.com