Introduction to Extension
We begin this program with an introduction of our organization, Extension.
Please review the information below to learn about our historical roots in agriculture, our connection to United States Department of Agriculture, and our connection to land grant universities.
What is Extension?
Extension provides non-formal education and learning activities to people throughout the country — to farmers and other residents of rural communities as well as to people living in urban areas. It emphasizes taking knowledge gained through research and education and bringing it directly to the people to create positive changes.
History of Extension
Fewer than 2 percent of Americans farm for a living today, and only 17 percent of Americans now live in rural areas. Yet, the extension service still plays a significant role in American life — rural, urban, and suburban. With its unprecedented reach — an office in or near most of the nation’s approximately 3,000 counties — extension agents help farmers and ranchers achieve greater success, assist families with nutrition and home economics, and prepare today’s youth to become leaders tomorrow.
Extension in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, Extension is connected to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Please visit our Wisconsin Extension website and learn more about our various programs.
The Wisconsin Idea
One of the longest and deepest traditions surrounding the University of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Idea signifies a general principle: that education should influence people’s lives beyond the boundaries of the classroom. Synonymous with Wisconsin for more than a century, this “Idea” has become the guiding philosophy of university outreach efforts in Wisconsin and throughout the world.
“I shall never be content until the beneficent influence of the University reaches every family of the state.”
UW President Charles Van Hise in 1905