Virginia Cooperative Extension - Knowledge for the CommonWealth
As the front door to the land-grant university system, Virginia Cooperative Extension uses objective, research-based educational programs to stimulate positive personal, economic, and societal change. Our educational programs lead to more productive lives, families, communities, and farms and forests while enhancing and preserving the quality of the commonwealth's natural resources.

Virginia Cooperative Extension provides every citizen of the state local access to the wealth of knowledge available through our two land-grant universities, Virginia Tech and Virginia State University.

Recognizing that knowledge is power, Extension uses the resources of the land-grant university system to deliver educational programs through a network of 107 local county and city offices, six 4-H Educational Centers, and 13 Agricultural Research and Extension Centers.

Extension is funded through the cooperative efforts of local, state, and federal governments. In addition, over 40,000 citizen volunteers contribute millions of hours every year helping identify and deliver needs-driven educational programs.

Virginia Cooperative Extension:

• Provides educational programs to individuals, families, organizations, and communities in the four broad areas of: 1) agriculture and natural resources; 2) 4-H youth development; 3) family and community sciences; and 4) food, nutrition, and health.
• Provides prompt access to unbiased, objective, research-based information and educational programs through an innovative network of human and technological resources.
• Collaborates with public and private partners to better utilize our resources, enhance our effectiveness, and reach a more diverse audience.
• Partners with citizen-led Extension Leadership Councils throughout the state to identify local

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Educational programs in Agriculture and Natural Resources help sustain the profitability of agricultural and forestry production, while enhancing and protecting the quality of our land and water resources. Programming efforts address a broad range of issues and critical needs associated with 1) the production of livestock, food crops, and forests; 2) financial and business management; 3) soil and water conservation; 4) wise and safe use of pesticides, 5) natural resource management; and 6) rural economic development.

4-H Youth Development

4-H is the largest comprehensive youth development program in the nation. Young people from ages 5 to 18 engage in hands-on learning experiences under the leadership of 4-H Agents and trained adult and teen volunteers. 4-H fosters development in effective citizenship, leadership, other important life skills through a strong science-based curriculum.

Through community-based and school-partnered programs, 4-H members learn how to: make sound decisions, manage resources, work with others, and utilize effective communication skills.

Family and Community Sciences

Family and Community Sciences programs assist families and communities with critical issues related to economic stability and quality of life. Comprehensive, community-based programs provide education for establishing or improving economic self-sufficiency and foster an environment to sustain a dynamic and productive workforce.

Food, Nutrition, and Health

Food, Nutrition and Health programs help individuals of all ages adopt positive lifestyle patterns that reduce the risk of chronic disease. Educational programs emphasize appropriate food and nutrition choices, encourage physical activity, and improve health literacy as a means to ensure a healthier and more productive society.