The Cooperative Extension Service is a nationwide  informal educational system created by the federal Smith-Lever Act of 1914.  It is a partnership between state land grant universities, the United States  Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the county governments throughout  the nation. All of these groups share in the planning, financing, and operation  of extension programs. Funding and programs are provided jointly by the  federal, state and local government partners. Here, that’s the USDA, the  University of Florida’s IFAS and the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners.

Most of the 3,200 counties nationwide have a county  Extension agent whose role is to provide informal, pragmatic education  and informational services to

• commercial and homeowner / hobbyist agriculture and  agribusiness
• natural resource based enterprises
• local citizens as households, consumers and families
• youth and community organizations

The Extension office is a department within county  government. The office collaborates with other county and USDA offices,  the chamber of commerce, agri-industry and consumer groups, the public  library and the school system to fulfill its roles of information services,  technology transfer and assistance to individuals or groups in making informed  decisions in their self-interest.