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The information contained in these web pages has not been verified for correctness. Some of the information contained herein is hearsay and may not be correct. Use the information from these pages only at your own risk!

What is the Extension Service?

Each state has a Land-Grant University, so every state has an Extension system. The Land-Grant University system was created through an Act of Congress, the Morrill Act of 1862. The universities were created as a partnership in agricultural education between the Federal Government (USDA) and the states.

However, it was soon recognized that because Land-Grant Universities had a central location (Columbus in Ohio, West Lafayette in Indiana, Lexington in Kentucky, etc.), they were unable to effectively reach out and provide consistent educational support to individuals throughout the states. For example, people in Franklin County, Ohio benefitted greatly, while people in Hamilton County, Ohio gained little.

So, in 1914 Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act. The act created the Cooperative Extension Service. It was call "Cooperative" because the new entity was a partnership between the federal government (the USDA), the states (the Land-Grant Universities), and the individual counties within the states. It was called "Extension" because the Service was an extension of the Land-Grant University system.

The Act specified teaching methods to be used and people to be served. The educational programs were to be provided "…to persons not attending or resident in said colleges [the Land-Grant Universities]…" Although Extension agents in Ohio are faculty members of The Ohio State University, this statement explains why agents do not teach at the University. Teaching methods specified by the Act included "...demonstrations, publications and otherwise..." OSU Extension has over 600 fact sheets and bulletins and demonstrations remain the mainstay of Extension teaching in Ohio.

The Smith-Lever Act also specified subject matter to be taught: "…subjects relating to agriculture and home economics…" In effect, the Act specified two "doors" (agriculture and home economics) opened to clientele seeking Extension-based answers to their questions. Although not specified by the enabling Act, two additional doors were added in later years: 4-H and Community and Natural Resource Development (CNRD) program areas.

Ohio County Extension Offices

Oregon Extension Services

SWCD/USDA-NRCS Offices

Yamhill County 2200 W. 2nd Street McMinnville, OR 97128   phone 503-472-1491    fax 503/472-2459

Washington County Building B Suite B-2, 1080 SW Baseline Hillsboro, OR 97123-3823    phone 503-681-0953   fax 503-681-9772

Multnomah County  2115 SE Morrison Street Portland, OR 97214-2865    phone 503-231-2270   fax 503-231-2271

Clackamas County  Federal Building  256 Warner Milne Road Oregon City, OR 97045-4014   phone 503-656-3499   fax 503-650-2367

OSU Extension Service

Washington County 18640 NW Walker Road, Suite 1400 Beaverton, OR 97006- 1975    phone 503-725-2300   fax 503-725-2100

Clackamas County 200 Warner Milne Road Oregon City, OR 97045-4096    phone 503-655-8631   fax 503-655-8636

Yamhill County 2050 Lafayette Street McMinnville, Oregon 97128-9333  phone 503-434-7517   fax 503-472-3054

Lane County 950 W. 13th St. Eugene, OR 97402  phone 541-687-4243   fax 541-682-2377

Linn County PO Box 765 Albany, OR 97321   phone 541-967-3871   fax 541-967-9169

Related web pages:

• Communicating for Agriculture is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the needs of America's farmers and ranchers. They can be contacted at:  http://www.cainc.org

• The Agriculture Network Information Center (AgNIC)   at  http://www.agnic.org   is a collaborative network of land-grant universities and the National Agricultural Library.  It is a focal point for agriculture and rural-related information and subject specialists.

• Oregon Small Farms is managed by the Oregon State University Extension Service. It provides small scale farmers with practical information about crop production, marketing, stewardship and other topics of interest.  They can be reached at:  http://smallfarms.orst.edu

Commercial suppliers:

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Electronic mailing lists:

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Suggested references:

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Periodicals:

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This page was last updated on December 09, 2007