Who We Are

The Cooperative Extension Service began in 1914 through a law called the Smith-Lever Act. It’s a partnership between state land-grant universities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and local county governments across the country. These groups work together to plan, fund, and carry out programs that help people learn useful skills like farming, gardening, cooking, and more. In Florida, the University of Florida manages the Cooperative Extension Service to support local communities with helpful information and resources.