About Extension

All Ohio Universities engage in research and teaching; but, The Ohio State University (OSU), as one of the nation's more than 100 land-grant colleges and universities, has a third critical mission - Extension.  "Extension" means reaching out and OSU - along with teaching and research - "extends" its resources, solving public needs with university -based intellectural capital through a myriad of activities.

Congress created the Extension System nearly a century ago to address exclusively rural, agricultural issues.  At that time, more than 50 percent of the U.S. population lived in rural areas, and 30 percent of the workforce was engaged in farming.  Extension's engagement with rural America helped make possible the American agricultural revolution, which dramatically increased farm productivity.

Despite the sharp decline in the size and economic prominence of rural America, on which the nation's original extension activities primarily focused, OSU Extension remains an important component of Ohio's economic development and social well-being activites.

Today, OSU Extension focuses on a wide array of critical issues affecting people's daily lives and the state's future.  The advanced research and educational technologies support and empower people and communities to solve problems and improve their lives.  Local Extension staff work hard to improve the quality of life for all Ohio citizens.