What we do

OSU Extension faculty, staff, and trained volunteers work alongside partners across Columbia County to provide educational workshops, activities, and services tailored to the unique industries, natural resources, and people in our communities.

Oregon State University’s land grant mission drives us to conduct research and share research-based education to minimize community risk, improve economic vitality, and promote personal and environmental health.

Highlights

Photo Credit: Adobe Stock (Cropped from original)

Family and Community Health

Our Family and Community Health team partners in communities to promote healthy nutrition, food safety and security, physical activity, behavioral health and well-being, emergency preparedness, community resilience, and more.

Columbia County

Photo: Lynn Ketchum (Cropped from original)

Gardening, Landscape & Small Farms Resources

Grow your gardening and landscape skills! We provide research-based information for backyard gardeners and green industry professionals, including regional specific information.

Columbia County

Stock photo (Cropped from original)

Forestry and Natural Resources

Our agents and specialists share knowledge about the latest techniques in natural resource management through educational programs and materials. We work with forest owners, foresters and other natural resource managers, educators ...

Columbia County

Photo: 4-H website (Cropped from original)

Activities for Youth

4-H empowers young people with hands-on learning experiences to help them grow and thrive. By creating a safe and welcoming environment, young people develop the skills needed to make a positive impact on the world around them.

Columbia County

Credit: Lynn Ketchum (Cropped from original)

Columbia County Local Food Sources

Columbia County Local Food guide aims to provide resources for farm fresh foods from local producers.

Columbia County

Stock photo (Cropped from original)

Farm to School and school gardens in Columbia County

We connect the cafeteria, classroom and community so kids, farmers, and communities thrive. OSU’s research-backed farm to school activities improve economic opportunities, public health, academic achievement, youth development and ecoliteracy in every county in Oregon.

Columbia County

Programs offered

• Columbia County 4-H: 4-H empowers young people with hands-on learning experiences to help them grow and thrive. By creating a safe and welcoming environment, young people develop the skills needed to make a positive impact on the world around them.
• Columbia County Master Gardeners: A program that educates Oregonians about the art and science of growing and caring for plants. This program also facilitates the training of a highly educated group of volunteers. These volunteers extend sustainable gardening information to their communities through education and outreach programs.
• Home Food Safety and Preservation Program: Food safety and preservation resources and classes, provided through the Oregon State University Extension Family and Community Health, ensure Oregonians have access to the most reliable information available. It is critical that those...
• Nutrition Education and Outreach Programs (SNAP-Ed): Our Family and Community Health educators deliver community-based nutrition education to adults and youth in all 36 Oregon counties. OSU Extension contracts with the Oregon Department of Human Services to bring SNAP-Ed (Supplemental ...
• Oregon Season Tracker: Oregon Season Tracker (OST) is a project of Oregon State University that aims to link natural resource managers, educators, researchers and others in the community to the science they use through collaborative citizen science. We ...
• Outdoor School: This is an exciting time for Oregon and for Oregon’s 5th and 6th grade students as OSU Extension works in collaboration with schools, partners, and communities to support and grow the statewide Outdoor School program, building on a legacy that began in 1966.
• Women Owning Woodlands Network: The Women Owning Woodlands Network (WOWNet) is a diverse, enthusiastic, group of women who are interested in woodland management. WOWNet allows women to come together to learn about forest management, share their forestry and ...