Making Lives Better. Extension Does That!
From backyard gardens and community farmers markets to youth leadership programs and vaping prevention, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System is improving lives in all 67 counties. Powered by research from Alabama A&M University and Auburn University, Extension delivers real solutions to real challenges—for people just like you. Every day, Extension specialists, educators, and scientists live out the land-grant mission, connecting world-class research to the people who need it most.
We invite you to discover for yourself the many things Extension can do for you. Visit your county Extension office, attend one of our many in-person workshops, or read below personal experiences from people whose lives were made better thanks to an Extension educator.
Will Burgess
Extension and Alabama 4-H equips the next generation of leaders with the needed skills, confidence, and opportunities to succeed. 4-H is a family tradition in the Burgess household. For 16-year-old Will Burgess, he was destined to follow in his parents’ footsteps and be an active 4-H member. However, his journey to being a State 4-H Ambassador is a little different than most.
Sweet South Market
Thanks to Alabama Extension, more than 800 food service workers completed ServSafe training in 2024. This important training provides workers with the know-how to uphold food safety standards. When Jennifer Bradley and Rosemary Guilford decided to expand their business, Sweet South Market, to include a larger menu, they turned to their local Extension agent Bridgette Brannon.
Payton Key
Plentiful crops, pristine yards, and beautiful landscapes all require good soil. Extension helps farmers and homeowners navigate the process of submitting soil tests. Plus, Extension agents and specialists can provide recommendations for improving soil fertility. Thanks to expert advice from Extension Agent Cade Grace, Walker County farmer Payton Key is harvesting higher yields.
School & Local Gardens
The impact of Alabama Extension Master Gardeners is staggering—reaching more than $11 million annually in community value. Beauty blossoms when Extension agents and county directors connect volunteers with community members looking to start or revitalize a garden. That’s how a new pollinator garden at D.A. Smith Middle School and gardens in Mobile and Talladega Counties came to be.
Chaidez Family Farms
Alabama Extension supports dozens of farmers markets across the state, connecting local growers and families. For the Chaidez family, a simple gift of a few backyard chickens sparked an interest in producing fresh eggs. With some help from Extension Agent Roshell Rosales Aguilar, what started as a hobby soon grew into Chaidez Family Farms—a thriving enterprise in Athens, Alabama.
Opelika Learning Center
Through hands-on workshops and school-based education, Extension gives young people the knowledge and tools to make informed and healthy decisions. The Escape Vapes program helps give students like those at the Opelika Learning Center a clear understanding of the effects of vaping on their bodies. For Assistant Principal Tamarcus Milner, bringing the program to his school was a no-brainer.
Farmers’ Deer Problem
Deer cause millions of dollars worth of row crop losses across Alabama each year. Alabama Extension and Auburn University experts are looking to help solve this problem by researching deterrents, border crops, and other management strategies. Through research trials and on-farm demonstrations, Extension professionals are continuing to search for cost-efficient answers that will protect fields and support long-term wildlife and crop management.
Today’s Mom
Extension delivers programs to more than 75,000 Alabama families every year, strengthening parenting skills, relationships, and community connections. As a first-time expectant mother, Kailey Smith needed help getting on the right track when it came to nutrition for her and her baby. She turned to Suheily Rios and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program’s Today’s Mom curriculum for help with her nutrition struggles.
Master Naturalists
Invasive species, both plants and wildlife, are some of the biggest threats to biodiversity. That’s why the newly relaunched Alabama Master Naturalist program provides invasive species education and connects volunteers with opportunities to help with invasive species removal. That kind of care for Alabama’s environment is important to Extension specialist Wesley Anderson and Certified Alabama Master Naturalist Valerie Castanza.