Extension

As a technical and content support system for NC Cooperative Extension, our faculty and staff actively develop, deliver and evaluate extension-based outreach and engagement programs, helping families gain new skills and knowledge in order to improve their overall well-being.

Our educational programs address a wide spectrum of individual and family needs. Whether focused on health, nutrition and food safety or parenting, aging and human development, our outreach sustains our communities.

Our Extension Program Focus

Agricultural Education

North Carolina Agricultural Education supports agriculture teachers and prepares students for successful careers and a lifetime of informed choices in the global agriculture, food, fiber, and natural resources systems. The North Carolina FFA Association provides leadership development, personal growth, and career success opportunities for students across the state. We are creating the next generation of leaders who will change the world through classroom instruction, work-based experiential learning, and leadership development!

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Enriching our Youth

4-H is the largest youth development organization in North Carolina. Hundreds of thousands of young people learn the skills to succeed through 4-H educational programs and camps. NC State Extension and the Cooperative Extension Program at N.C. A&T State University conduct 4-H programs where youth learn by doing.

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Disaster Readiness, Response and Recovery

Natural disasters of all types may impact North Carolina. From wildfires, to snow/ice storms, to tornadoes, to flooding and even hurricanes, residents of North Carolina always need to be ready and prepared to deal with a disaster.
The key to keeping your family safe is to have a plan and to know what to do in the event of severe weather or other disasters. This site will help connect you with resources so that you can be prepared for whatever strikes.

Find how to prepare, respond and recover 

Family Resource Management

We work to improve the welfare of the family through programs that educate, influence public policy, and help families put research-based knowledge to work in their lives.

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Food Safety and Home Food Preservation

Extension offers a wealth of educational programs that address public health issues, improve economic well-being, and help people make healthier, better-informed decisions. Programs range from local foods, food safety, and food preservation to gardening and environmental efforts.

Program details 

Healthy Homes

The NC State Healthy Homes Program addresses housing-related hazards and risks that can result in injury and disease. It is part of the nationwide Healthy Homes Partnership. This partnership is between USDA, NIFA, state and land grant universities, and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

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Local Food

The objective of the Extension Local Food Program is to facilitate the production, marketing, and consumption of food grown, caught, and raised within North Carolina. The program works with many organizations and stakeholders to help our communities on development and expansion of local food systems across the state.

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Military Outreach

North Carolina State Extension Military Outreach (NCSEMO) is proud to support the more than 134,000 active duty, reserve and guard members, 109,000 military youth and 775,000 veterans who call North Carolina home. Service members need to know that their families are surrounded by supportive citizens, offering a cadre of services and resources to help ease the stress of deployments and family separations.

Learn how we support our military 

NC Fresh Produce Safety

North Carolina’s fresh produce safety efforts are broad and diverse, positioning the state as a national leader in food safety education and outreach. This website represents the “N.C. Fresh Produce Safety program,” part of the Department of Horticultural Sciences at NCSU. This website is managed by Elena Rogers and Chip Simmons, Area Specialized Agents in Food Safety- Fresh Produce.

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Faithful Families

Faithful Families works directly in communities of faith across the country to promote health for individuals, families, and local communities. The practice-tested program is open to all faith and religious traditions and engages faith communities in health education, environmental changes to support health, and community-wide health initiatives.

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OPTICS

Opportunities for Purpose-Transformed Identities for Career Success (OPTICS) program. The mission of OPTICS is to help Black youth develop a purpose-based identity and provide them and their families with the resources and tools needed for youth to successfully transition into career and vocational roles.

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