Though more than 100 years old, Extension is as vital as ever, and perhaps even more so, due to the increased diversity and complexity of the issues people encounter today. The Cooperative Extension System continues its longstanding tradition of extending the university to the people to improve the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities.

Extension is unique in structure and function. As a partnership of federal, state, and local governments, the Extension System--with its network of county offices and state universities, is in a position to deliver educational programs at the grassroots level throughout the nation. With its university faculty and staff serving the states and territories most located in the over 3,000 counties across the country, the County Extension Office is truly the front door to America's land-grant universities. This integration of teaching, research, and public service enables the Cooperative Extension System to respond to critical and emerging issues with research-based, unbiased information.