What K-State Research and Extension Is
K-State Research and Extension is Kansas State University's statewide outreach network. Its 2026 report to the legislature says it has a presence in all 105 Kansas counties, organized into 21 districts and 48 county units as of January 2026. The system also includes research-extension centers, experiment fields and horticulture centers. For most people, though, "Extension" means the local office in your county, where staff answer questions about crops, livestock, gardens, food, money, health and youth programs. A local page for the Post Rock District describes the work as a partnership between Kansas State University and federal, state and county governments.
One useful way to think about it: the university supplies research and training, and your county supplies the local office and the people who know your soil, your weather and your neighbors.
County Units and Extension Districts
Kansas offices come in two shapes. Some counties run their own county Extension council. Others have joined together in an Extension district. The state's Extension Districts in Kansas FAQ explains the details.
- The law. The Kansas Extension District Law, passed in 1991, lets two or more county Extension councils form a district. As of 2021, 59 counties had formed 21 districts.
- Offices stay local. Districts that have formed so far have kept an Extension office in each member county.
- Who governs. Each county in a district has four members on the governing body, elected by that county's residents. For example, the Post Rock District in north central Kansas covers Lincoln, Mitchell, Jewell, Osborne and Smith counties, with offices in Beloit, Lincoln, Mankato, Osborne and Smith Center, and a 20-member board with four members from each county.
- Who pays. County councils get local funds from a tax on taxable tangible property in the county. The FAQ says a typical county council budget is about 80 percent county funds and 20 percent state and federal funds.
- Why districts exist. Pooling resources lets agents specialize. A typical district office could include a district director plus agents for crops, livestock, horticulture, family and consumer sciences, community vitality and 4-H youth development.
Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties have discussed forming a district. Wyandotte County's explainer says county offices would stay open and county fair associations would still host their own fairs. Funding questions like this are decided locally, which is why your county's setup may differ from the next one over.
What Your Local Office Offers
Exact programs vary by county and by which agents are on staff, but the 2026 annual report lists the broad areas: rural health, youth development, agriculture, hunger and food security, and community vitality. In practice, producers and families can usually expect help with:
- Agriculture. Crop production, pest and weed questions, livestock, and pond or pasture concerns. In 2025 the system responded to the wheat curl mite outbreak, working with Kansas Wheat.
- Horticulture. Lawn, garden, tree and fruit questions. One Kansas directory notes that local agents can answer garden and farming questions for free.
- Family and consumer sciences. Nutrition, food safety, family and child development.
- Community vitality. Leadership and local development programs.
- Youth. 4-H, described below.
Ask your own office what it offers this year, since staffing and programs differ by county and district.
The 4-H Connection
Extension and 4-H are the same family. Kansas 4-H is a youth development program for children ages 7 to 18, and your county or district Extension office is where families enroll and where the 4-H agent works. A news story about the 2026 State Fair notes that Kansas 4-H serves more than 15,000 members across all 105 counties.
Extension also runs the 4-H side of the county fair. K-State's policy on the Extension role at fairs and shows says Extension staff coordinate 4-H exhibits, weigh-ins, identification and registration, secure superintendents and judges, and communicate 4-H rules and deadlines. The fair board manages the facilities and open class divisions.
How to Find Your Office
- Open the K-State Extension statewide locations page and hover over your county on the map. Contact information appears below the map.
- If you are new to 4-H, the Kansas 4-H contact page has a form, and someone from your local office will contact you.
- Prefer the state office? The Kansas 4-H office is at 201 Umberger Hall, 1612 Claflin Rd, Manhattan, KS 66506, phone 785-532-5800.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an Extension office in every Kansas county?
Yes. The statewide locations page says K-State Extension has a presence in all 105 counties, and a district keeps an office in each member county.
Does it cost money to ask a question?
Local agents can answer garden and farming questions for free, according to the directory linked above. Some workshops or tests may carry fees, so ask your office.
What is the difference between a county unit and a district?
A county unit is one county's Extension council. A district is two or more counties that combined their councils under the 1991 law, sharing a governing board and staff while keeping local offices.
How do I join 4-H?
Contact your local Extension office or use the form on the Kansas 4-H contact page. Your county will tell you about clubs, enrollment and fair requirements.
Kansas Listings Covered by This Guide
- Atchison County Extension Office
Based in Effingham, the Atchison County office of K-State Research and Extension offers farmers, ranchers and families research-based guidance plus local 4-H and community programming.
Effingham, KS - Barber County Extension Office
Farmers, gardeners and 4-H families in Barber County can reach K-State Research and Extension at the Medicine Lodge office for agriculture, horticulture, nutrition and youth development help.
Medicine Lodge, KS | 620-886-3971 - Brown County Extension Office
Based in Hiawatha, the Brown County office of K-State Research and Extension offers farmers, ranchers and families research-based guidance plus local 4-H and community programming.
Hiawatha, KS - Butler County Extension Office
Farmers, gardeners and 4-H families in Butler County can reach K-State Research and Extension at the El Dorado office for agriculture, horticulture, nutrition and youth development help.
El Dorado, KS - Central Kansas Extension District - Minneapolis Office
K-State Research and Extension programs for Ottawa County, from 4-H to crop and livestock questions, run from the Minneapolis office of the Central Kansas Extension District, which also serves Saline.
Minneapolis, KS - Central Kansas Extension District - Salina Office
Salina is one of the offices of the Central Kansas Extension District, a K-State Research and Extension district that serves Ottawa and Saline; it handles local 4-H, agriculture and family programs for Saline County.
Salina, KS - Cherokee County Extension Office
Based in Columbus, the Cherokee County office of K-State Research and Extension offers farmers, ranchers and families research-based guidance plus local 4-H and community programming.
Columbus, KS - Clark County Extension Office
Clark County residents get K-State Research and Extension programs through the local office in Ashland, including 4-H, crop and livestock help, and family and community education.
Ashland, KS - Coffey County Extension Office
Farmers, gardeners and 4-H families in Coffey County can reach K-State Research and Extension at the Burlington office for agriculture, horticulture, nutrition and youth development help.
Burlington, KS - Comanche County Extension Office
Comanche County residents get K-State Research and Extension programs through the local office in Coldwater, including 4-H, crop and livestock help, and family and community education.
Coldwater, KS - Cottonwood Extension District - Great Bend Office
The Cottonwood Extension District keeps an office in Great Bend for Barton County, part of a K-State Research and Extension district covering Barton and Ellis, with 4-H, farm and horticulture help.
Great Bend, KS - Cottonwood Extension District - Hays Office
The Cottonwood Extension District keeps an office in Hays for Ellis County, part of a K-State Research and Extension district covering Barton and Ellis, with 4-H, farm and horticulture help.
Hays, KS - Cowley County Extension Office
The K-State Research and Extension office in Winfield serves Cowley County with 4-H youth programs, agronomy and livestock information, horticulture advice, and family and community classes.
Winfield, KS - Dickinson County Extension Office
Dickinson County residents get K-State Research and Extension programs through the local office in Abilene, including 4-H, crop and livestock help, and family and community education.
Abilene, KS - Doniphan County Extension Office
The K-State Research and Extension office in Troy serves Doniphan County with 4-H youth programs, agronomy and livestock information, horticulture advice, and family and community classes.
Troy, KS - Douglas County Extension Office
Based in Lawrence, the Douglas County office of K-State Research and Extension offers farmers, ranchers and families research-based guidance plus local 4-H and community programming.
Lawrence, KS - Edwards County Extension Office
Farmers, gardeners and 4-H families in Edwards County can reach K-State Research and Extension at the Kinsley office for agriculture, horticulture, nutrition and youth development help.
Kinsley, KS - Finney County Extension Office
Farmers, gardeners and 4-H families in Finney County can reach K-State Research and Extension at the Garden City office for agriculture, horticulture, nutrition and youth development help.
Garden City, KS - Flint Hills Extension District - Cottonwood Falls Office
K-State Research and Extension programs for Chase County, from 4-H to crop and livestock questions, run from the Cottonwood Falls office of the Flint Hills Extension District, which also serves Morris.
Cottonwood Falls, KS - Flint Hills Extension District - Council Grove Office
Council Grove is one of the offices of the Flint Hills Extension District, a K-State Research and Extension district that serves Chase and Morris; it handles local 4-H, agriculture and family programs for Morris County.
Council Grove, KS - Ford County Extension Office
Ford County residents get K-State Research and Extension programs through the local office in Dodge City, including 4-H, crop and livestock help, and family and community education.
Dodge City, KS - Frontier Extension District - Garnett Office
The Frontier Extension District keeps an office in Garnett for Anderson County, part of a K-State Research and Extension district covering Anderson, Franklin and Osage, with 4-H, farm and horticulture help.
Garnett, KS Website - Frontier Extension District - Lyndon Office
Lyndon is one of the offices of the Frontier Extension District, a K-State Research and Extension district that serves Anderson, Franklin and Osage; it handles local 4-H, agriculture and family programs for Osage County.
Lyndon, KS Website - Frontier Extension District - Ottawa Office
K-State Research and Extension programs for Franklin County, from 4-H to crop and livestock questions, run from the Ottawa office of the Frontier Extension District, which also serves Anderson and Osage.
Ottawa, KS Website - Geary County Extension Office
Based in Junction City, the Geary County office of K-State Research and Extension offers farmers, ranchers and families research-based guidance plus local 4-H and community programming.
Junction City, KS | 785-238-4161 - Golden Prairie Extension District - Grainfield Office
The Golden Prairie Extension District keeps an office in Grainfield for Gove County, part of a K-State Research and Extension district covering Gove, Logan and Trego, with 4-H, farm and horticulture help.
Grainfield, KS - Golden Prairie Extension District - Oakley Office
Oakley is one of the offices of the Golden Prairie Extension District, a K-State Research and Extension district that serves Gove, Logan and Trego; it handles local 4-H, agriculture and family programs for Logan County.
Oakley, KS - Golden Prairie Extension District - WaKeeney Office
The Golden Prairie Extension District keeps an office in WaKeeney for Trego County, part of a K-State Research and Extension district covering Gove, Logan and Trego, with 4-H, farm and horticulture help.
WaKeeney, KS - Golden Prairie Extension Office - Logan County
The Golden Prairie Extension Office serves Logan County from the lower level of the courthouse in Oakley. It is the local contact point for K-State Extension programs and for Logan County and Golden Prairie District 4-H.
Logan County Courthouse, Lower Level, 710 W 2nd Street, Oakley, KS 67748 | 785-671-3245 Website - Grant County Extension Office
The K-State Research and Extension office in Ulysses serves Grant County with 4-H youth programs, agronomy and livestock information, horticulture advice, and family and community classes.
Ulysses, KS | 620-356-1721 - Grant County Research and Extension
The Grant County extension office in Ulysses handles 4-H enrollment and county fair judging, including the foods consultation and public speaking contests held in its meeting room.
Ulysses, KS | 620-356-1721 Website - Gray County Extension Office
Based in Cimarron, the Gray County office of K-State Research and Extension offers farmers, ranchers and families research-based guidance plus local 4-H and community programming.
Cimarron, KS - Greeley County Extension Office
Farmers, gardeners and 4-H families in Greeley County can reach K-State Research and Extension at the Tribune office for agriculture, horticulture, nutrition and youth development help.
Tribune, KS - Greenwood County Extension Office
Greenwood County residents get K-State Research and Extension programs through the local office in Eureka, including 4-H, crop and livestock help, and family and community education.
Eureka, KS - Hamilton County Extension Office
The K-State Research and Extension office in Syracuse serves Hamilton County with 4-H youth programs, agronomy and livestock information, horticulture advice, and family and community classes.
Syracuse, KS | 620-384-5445 - Harper County Extension Office
Based in Harper, the Harper County office of K-State Research and Extension offers farmers, ranchers and families research-based guidance plus local 4-H and community programming.
Harper, KS - Harvey County Extension Office
Farmers, gardeners and 4-H families in Harvey County can reach K-State Research and Extension at the Newton office for agriculture, horticulture, nutrition and youth development help.
Newton, KS | 316-284-6930 - Hodgeman County Extension Office
The K-State Research and Extension office in Jetmore serves Hodgeman County with 4-H youth programs, agronomy and livestock information, horticulture advice, and family and community classes.
Jetmore, KS - Jewell County Extension Office
The Mankato extension office in Jewell County collects 4-H livestock, exhibit and fashion revue forms for the Jewell County Fair and is part of the Post Rock District.
Mankato, KS - Johnson County Extension Office
The K-State Research and Extension office in Olathe serves Johnson County with 4-H youth programs, agronomy and livestock information, horticulture advice, and family and community classes.
Olathe, KS | 913-715-7000
Plus 87 more. Find yours on your county's page in the Kansas directory.
Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.