What we do

Extension faculty, staff, and trained volunteers work alongside local partners 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 improve economic vitality and promote personal and environmental health.

We're solving real problems with people and community partnerships.

• Knowledge, networks, and market access improve agricultural success and food systems resilience
• Resilient ecosystems build and sustain our outdoor economy and increase livability
• A skilled workforce attracts businesses and infuses profit potential 
• Healthy residents reduce reliance on county services and improve overall population health
• Youth and family programs foster essential skills for life, leadership, and careers

Highlights

4-H Youth Development

4-H Youth Development

Building confidence, resiliency, and civic mindedness in our youth. Cultivating positive youth development through youth and family programs that foster essential skills for life, leadership, careers, health, and community.

Hood River County

Agriculture and Small Farms

Agriculture and Small Farms

Encouraging food systems resiliency, productivity, and natural resource management. Supporting small farms and the local agriculture industry through trainings, research, technical support, networks, and expert advice.

Hood River County

Forestry and Natural Resources

Forestry and Natural Resources

Ensuring our forests are resilient and continue to provide the wide array of benefits that we treasure - now and always. Supporting woodland owners, communities, and industry in natural resource management through trainings, research, Junior and Master Naturalist volunteers, technical support, and expert advice.

Hood River County

Healthy People, Families, and Communities

Healthy People, Families, and Communities

Partnering with families, organizations, and communities to enhance health and wellness for every stage of life. Building knowledge and skills through nutrition education, Master Food Preserver classes, StrongWomen strength training programs, and collaborative community coalitions.

Hood River County

Home Garden and Landscape

Home Garden and Landscape

Supporting gardeners through trainings and opportunities to learn and share knowledge with the community. Providing education through research, technical support, trainings, expert advice, and community demonstration gardens.

Hood River County

Juntos and Open Campus

Juntos and Open Campus

Investing in the future by revealing, growing, and releasing every student's potential. Engaging local youth, schools, and colleges to address the unique educational needs of Hood River County and foster college and career readiness and degree completion.

Hood River County

Tree Fruit Production and Pest Control

Tree Fruit Production and Pest Control

Promoting profitable and sustainable tree fruit production and pest control through trainings, research, technical support, community outreach, and expert advice.

Hood River County

Programs offered

• Citizen Fire Academy: The Citizen Fire Academy program equips participants with the knowledge they need to improve fire preparedness and resiliency on their own properties and in their communities.
• Home Food Safety and Preservation Program: Food safety and preservation resources and classes, provided through the Oregon State University Extension Family and Community Health, ensures Oregonians have access to the most reliable information available. It is critical that those who prepare food and practice preserving and processing foods at home...
• Hood River County 4-H: The mission of the 4-H program is to help young people build competence, confidence, connection, compassion and character as they learn and grow.
• Hood River 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.
• Master Woodland Manager: The Master Woodland Manager (MWM) training is offered by Oregon State University Forestry Extension as a master's level course for landowners who are interested in an intensive forest management training and sharing the knowledge gained through this training with people in their local communities. Graduates...
• Open Campus: OSU Open Campus, a community-based education partnership convened by Oregon State University, provides local access to learning in order to address the unique educational needs of Oregon’s communities. Through a statewide network of Open Campus education coordinators, working in partnership with community...
• OSU Small Farms: The goal of the Small Farms program is to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of small farms by employing appropriate scale production and marketing techniques. The program works toward improving small farm horticultural production and small-scale livestock, poultry & forage production.
• 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 natural resources experiences, and exchange personal knowledge in a unique peer-to...