What cooperative extension service professionals do

People who work in cooperative extension ask important questions and find answers to problems that affect our quality of life. They help people and families by making our communities better places to live. They are called cooperative extension specialists, county extension agents, or 4-H/youth development agents. CES workers teach people about better ways to run their farms, educate children, and improve their communities. They offer classes and teach young people and adults to be good leaders. They also organize 4-H activities and help people who come to them for advice.

Preparing for the job

You will need a 4-year college degree to become a cooperative extension professional. To prepare, you can study subjects like family and consumer sciences, agriculture, and home economics. Many of the more complex positions also require a Master's degree.

The future

People will always need to know how to improve their lives and their communities. For this reason, cooperative extension careers will continue to be a good choice for people who want to make a difference in the world around them.