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.
A long history of serving Minnesota
Follow along, decade by decade, from the events leading up to Extension's beginnings and through early history to the early 2020s.
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: 2,400 collaborations foster 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
Of the 58,000 youth in this thriving program, 97% say they gained
knowledge applicable to their future.
Food and agriculture
Research and education enhance crop yields, animal health,
and energy and water conservation across 64,000 farms.
Lawn and garden
3,498 Master Gardener volunteers dedicated 208,400 hours to
promote sustainable gardening and healthy food cultivation.
Healthier families
138,854 Minnesotans benefited from education in financial literacy, nutrition, co-parenting in divorce and mental health.
Natural resources
Volunteers contributed 107,237 hours to restore public lands, manage invasive species and teach better land stewardship.
Community development
Extension reached 26,158 Minnesotans with education in leadership and civic engagement, community economics, and agricultural business management.
2026-2027 budget: $90M
County: $22.7M (25.2%)
Investments ensure 4-H, agriculture and other Extension programs are delivered locally.
State: $32M (35.6%)
Investments from the state fund wide-ranging Extension education and help leverage
resources from other partners.
Federal: $10.8M (12%)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture supports wide-ranging Extension education.
Grants, gifts and income: $24.5M (27.2%)
Individual donors, organizations, and public agencies invest in the Extension opportunities
important to them.
Extension’s 2030 strategic plan
These high-level priorities were developed collaboratively by Extension faculty, educators and staff and are intended to be a starting point for individual faculty/staff, programs, and departments to create specific tactics and strategies that best meet the needs of their partners and stakeholders.