What we do
Building a stronger Minnesota together
Extension fulfills the University of Minnesota mission by bringing Minnesotans together to build a better future through science-based knowledge, expertise and training.
University of Minnesota Extension mission
Making a difference by connecting community needs and University resources to address critical issues in Minnesota.
Connecting rural, suburban, urban and tribal communities with the University of Minnesota
Statewide presence: Extension operates in all 87 counties.
Workforce: 65% of Extension faculty and staff live and work in Greater Minnesota.
Volunteer impact: Over 35,000 trained volunteers enhance outreach.
Partnerships: 30% growth in collaborations fosters work with diverse communities.
Online engagement: 8.5 million annual website visits help people find solutions.
Extension is the front door to the University of Minnesota, with over 1 million participants
Minnesota 4-H
30% more youth joined 4-H in 2024, with half of them being the first in their families to participate.
Food and agriculture
Extension research and education enhance crop yields, animal health, and energy and water conservation across Minnesota's 65,531 farms.
Lawn and garden
3,283 Master Gardener volunteers dedicated 195,670 hours to promote sustainable gardening and healthy food cultivation.
Healthier families
Extension reached 145,755 Minnesotans with nutrition education like SNAP-Ed and EFNEP and supported 288 food shelves.
Natural resources
Volunteers contributed 98,016 hours to restore public lands, manage invasive species and teach better land stewardship.
Community development
Extension reached 26,158 Minnesotans with leadership and economic development education and provided 327 applied research reports for community use.
2025 budget
Total budget: $82.9M
Counties: $22.2M (26.8%)
Investments ensure 4-H, agriculture and other Extension programs are delivered locally.
Federal: $10.8M (13%)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture supports wide-ranging research and Extension education.
Grants, gifts and income: $17.8M (21.5%)
Individuals and organizations provide support for valuable Extension opportunities important to them.
State: $32M (38.7%)
Investments are leveraged through collaborations with Minnesota state agencies, including departments of agriculture, health, human services, natural resources and tourism.