What University of Missouri Extension Does
University of Missouri Extension (MU Extension) takes the university's research out to farms, towns, schools and kitchens. According to the University of Missouri System's impact page, it was founded in 1914, runs a network of offices in all 114 counties and St. Louis, offers more than 300 programs and has 849 faculty and staff. It reports an annual impact of $1.2 billion in fiscal year 2025, a return of $13 to every $1 Missouri invests. If you have a question about a pasture, a pond, a calf, a garden or a youth project, your county office is the place to start.
Program Areas
The impact page groups MU Extension's work into these main areas:
- Agriculture and Environment: includes the Missouri Agriculture, Food and Forestry Innovation Center, Master Gardener and Master Naturalist.
- Missouri 4-H: leadership and civic engagement, plus college and career pathways.
- Business and Community: includes Missouri Small Business Development Centers and the Neighborhood Leadership Academy.
- Health and Human Sciences: includes Stay Strong Stay Healthy and Family Nutrition Education Programs.
- Continuing Education: includes the Fire and Rescue Training Institute and continuing education for health professions.
Statewide priorities named on the same page include broadband access, rural health and well-being, and the MU Career Accelerator.
How Local Offices Are Organized
A 2017 MU Extension publication, Extension in Missouri, says about 2,400 citizens serve on MU County Extension Councils in all 114 counties, advising on local priorities and needs. It also described six geographic regions (Northwest, West Central, East Central, Northeast, Southwest and Southeast) plus an urban region covering the St. Louis and Kansas City areas. Regional lines may have changed since, so use the current office pages for your county.
As one example, the Southwest Region page covers 17 counties: Barry, Barton, Christian, Dade, Douglas, Greene, Howell, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Ozark, Stone, Taney, Texas, Webster and Wright. Its regional office is at 2400 S. Scenic Avenue, Springfield, MO 65807, phone 417-865-0707, open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Each county has its own page listing local faculty, staff, events and courses.
Finding Your Office or a Specialist
- Use the locations directory. It lists offices by county, and each entry carries a phone number.
- Use the people directory to find a specialist by name or topic.
- County pages follow the pattern extension.missouri.edu/counties/ followed by the county name, for example Jackson or Clay.
Call before you drive. Hours and staffing differ from county to county.
Missouri 4-H
The Missouri 4-H page describes 4-H as part of MU Extension and as America's largest youth development organization, welcoming all Missouri youth. It lists clubs, camps, contests, conferences, special interest groups and in-school and afterschool programs. It also points to the 4-H Clover Catalog for 2026-2027, 4-H Online (the record-keeping login) and a monthly Electronic Youth Connection newsletter.
The state 4-H office is at 540 Hitt St, 306 Gentry Hall, Columbia, MO 65211-0001, phone 573-882-9359. For a local club, use the "Contact local 4-H" link from that page or call your county office.
4-H and the Missouri State Fair
Extension's State Fair page says all 4-H members can take part in the livestock and horse shows, and that county staff must sign off on participation. Registration runs through the Missouri State Fair. Everyone showing animals must complete Show Me Quality Assurance (SMQA) training through their 4-H Online account. For animal health requirements, the page gives the Missouri State Veterinarians' office number, 573-751-4359.
The same page covers the 2027 fair, August 12 to 22, 2027. The 4-H/FFA Dog Show and Dog Bowl are set for Monday, August 16, 2027, at the Mathewson Exhibition Center, and you do not have to have shown at a county or area show first. Demonstrations require a blue ribbon at a county achievement event, and staff approval is requested in 4-H Online as close to July 15 as possible.
The State Fair's own rules add that 4-H members must have passed their 8th birthday but not their 19th before January 1 of the program year, and that dues must be paid by June 1, per the 4-H/FFA livestock rules.
County Fairs and Shows
Many Missouri county fairs expect Show Me Quality Assurance certification for 4-H livestock exhibitors. The Daviess County Extension fair dates page explains that "open" fairs accept any Missouri 4-H or FFA member in good standing, while "closed" fairs accept only that county's members. Sheep and goats at livestock shows need current health papers.
How to Get Started
- Find your county page and note the office phone number and current hours.
- Parents: ask which 4-H clubs are open, how to enroll in 4-H Online and when fair entries and ownership dates fall.
- Producers and gardeners: use the people directory to reach a specialist in your crop, species or garden problem.
- Bring photos, samples or records when you ask a question. You will get a better answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Missouri counties have Extension offices?
MU Extension reports a network of offices in 114 counties and St. Louis.
When was MU Extension founded?
1914, per the University of Missouri System impact page.
How do I reach the state 4-H office?
Call 573-882-9359 or write to 540 Hitt St, 306 Gentry Hall, Columbia, MO 65211-0001.
Do I need training before showing livestock?
Youth showing animals at the Missouri State Fair must complete Show Me Quality Assurance training through 4-H Online, and many county fairs expect it too.
Missouri Listings Covered by This Guide
- Missouri State 4-H Congress
Three-day 4-H leadership event on the Mizzou campus for grades 9 through recent graduates, with a keynote and election of the State 4-H Council. Held each year; the most recent dates were May 28-30, 2026.
- Macon County 4-H
Macon County 4-H runs clubs in Atlanta, Callao, Macon and LaPlata that meet monthly, plus Clover Kids for ages 5 to 7; the program year runs October 1 to September 30.
111 N. Rollins St., Macon, MO 63552 | 660-385-2173 Website - Marion County 4-H
Marion County 4-H has nine clubs, including Silver Spurs, which meets at F and T Livestock Market, and holds achievement contests in photography, public speaking, demonstrations and judging.
Palmyra, MO 63461 Website - MU Extension - Atchison County
University of Missouri Extension office for Atchison County in Rock Port. Rock Port office hosts 4-H resources and small business and pesticide training programs for Atchison County.
201 Highway 136 East, Rock Port, MO | 660-744-6231 - MU Extension - Audrain County
University of Missouri Extension office for Audrain County in Mexico. Mexico office in the county courthouse area supports Audrain County 4-H clubs and fundraising guides.
101 N. Jefferson St., Rm. 304, Mexico, MO | 573-581-3231 - MU Extension - Carter County
University of Missouri Extension office for Carter County in Van Buren. Van Buren office offers 4-H club resources and pesticide applicator training for Carter County.
201 John Street, Van Buren, MO | 573-323-4418 - MU Extension - Cedar County
University of Missouri Extension office for Cedar County in Stockton. Stockton office sits in the basement of the Cedar County Courthouse.
113 South Street, Stockton, MO - MU Extension - Clark County
University of Missouri Extension office for Clark County in Kahoka. Kahoka office serves Clark County with 4-H fashion revue and club fundraiser resources.
111 E. Court St., Suite 10, Kahoka, MO | 660-727-3339 - MU Extension - Cooper County
University of Missouri Extension office for Cooper County in Boonville. Boonville office runs 4-H clubs and pesticide applicator training for Cooper County.
510 Jackson Road, Ste A, Boonville, MO | 660-882-5661 - MU Extension in Dallas County
MU Extension office in the Buffalo courthouse building, open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; offers 4-H, pesticide applicator and master gardener courses.
108 S Maple Street, Buffalo, MO 65622 | 417-345-7551 - MU Extension in Daviess County
MU Extension in Daviess County; its fair dates page tracks area 4-H and FFA livestock fairs and association shows for Daviess and neighboring Harrison county youth.
MO | 660-663-3300 - MU Extension in DeKalb County
MU Extension in DeKalb County, the local contact for 4-H youth programs, agriculture and horticulture classes; reachable at 660-748-3315.
MO | 660-748-3315 - MU Extension in Dent County
MU Extension in Dent County, an educational outreach office for farmers, gardeners and 4-H families in the Salem area; phone 573-729-3196.
MO | 573-729-3196 - MU Extension in Douglas County
MU Extension in Douglas County, serving Ava-area farmers and 4-H members with university-based agriculture education; phone 417-683-4409.
MO | 417-683-4409 - MU Extension in Dunklin County
MU Extension in Dunklin County, the bootheel office for row-crop growers, 4-H clubs and horticulture questions; phone 573-888-4722.
MO | 573-888-4722 - MU Extension in Franklin County
MU Extension in Franklin County, serving a mix of suburban and rural families with 4-H, agriculture and gardening programs; phone 636-583-5141.
MO | 636-583-5141 - MU Extension in Gasconade County
MU Extension in Gasconade County, offering university agriculture programs and 4-H support in the Hermann and Owensville area; phone 573-266-2701.
MO | 573-266-2701 - MU Extension in Gentry County
MU Extension in Gentry County, the local source for northwest Missouri 4-H, crop and livestock education; phone 660-726-5610.
MO | 660-726-5610 - MU Extension in Greene County
MU Extension in Greene County, covering the Springfield region with 4-H, horticulture and agriculture education; phone 417-881-8909.
MO | 417-881-8909 - MU Extension in Grundy County
MU Extension in Grundy County, serving Trenton-area farmers and youth; it shares the 660-748-3315 phone number with the DeKalb County office.
MO | 660-748-3315 - MU Extension in Harrison County
MU Extension in Harrison County, home to 4-H clubs such as Pawnee Peppers in Eagleville, Mitchelville near Bethany and Blue Ribbon Bandits in Gilman City.
MO | 660-425-6434 - MU Extension in Henry County
MU Extension in Henry County, supporting Clinton-area producers, gardeners and 4-H clubs with university research; phone 660-885-5556.
MO | 660-885-5556 - MU Extension in Hickory County
MU Extension in Hickory County, a small Ozarks office for beef and forage producers and 4-H families; phone 417-745-6767.
MO | 417-745-6767 - MU Extension in Holt County
MU Extension in Holt County, serving Missouri River bottom crop and livestock producers and 4-H youth; phone 660-446-3724.
MO | 660-446-3724 - MU Extension in Howard County
MU Extension in Howard County, covering the Fayette and Glasgow area with agriculture, horticulture and 4-H programs; phone 660-248-2272.
MO | 660-248-2272 - MU Extension in Howell County
MU Extension in Howell County, the West Plains area office for cattle producers, gardeners and 4-H members; phone 417-256-2391.
MO | 417-256-2391 - MU Extension in Iron County
MU Extension in Iron County, offering university-backed agriculture and youth education in the St. Francois Mountains; phone 573-546-7515.
MO | 573-546-7515 - MU Extension in Jackson County
MU Extension in Jackson County, with a Kansas City office on the same number, serving urban and rural growers and 4-H clubs; phone 816-252-5051.
MO | 816-252-5051 - MU Extension in Jasper County
MU Extension in Jasper County, which runs the Jasper County Youth Fair where 4-H projects can advance to the Ozark Empire Fair and Missouri State Fair.
MO | 417-358-2158 - MU Extension in Jefferson County
MU Extension in Jefferson County; its 4-H program holds a monthly council, conference judging, school chick embryology and a county fair in mid-July.
MO | 636-797-5391 - MU Extension in Johnson County
MU Extension in Johnson County, serving the Warrensburg area with agriculture, horticulture and 4-H programs; phone 660-747-3193.
MO | 660-747-3193 - MU Extension in Knox County
MU Extension in Knox County, a northeast Missouri office supporting livestock and grain farmers and 4-H clubs; phone 660-397-2179.
MO | 660-397-2179 - MU Extension in Laclede County
MU Extension in Laclede County, supporting Lebanon-area producers, the county fair 4-H exhibits and youth programs; phone 417-532-7126.
MO | 417-532-7126 - MU Extension in Lafayette County
MU Extension in Lafayette County, serving Lexington-area crop and cattle producers and 4-H families; phone 660-584-3658.
MO | 660-584-3658 - MU Extension in Lawrence County
MU Extension in Lawrence County, sharing the 417-466-3102 number with the Lawrence County Youth Fair board in Freistatt.
MO | 417-466-3102 - MU Extension in Lewis County
MU Extension in Lewis County, offering agriculture education and 4-H support near Canton and LaGrange; phone 573-767-5273.
MO | 573-767-5273 - MU Extension in Lincoln County
MU Extension in Lincoln County, the Troy-area office for farmers, gardeners and 4-H clubs; phone 636-528-4613.
MO | 636-528-4613 - MU Extension in Linn County
MU Extension in Linn County, sharing the 660-895-5123 number used by the Linn County Fair in Brookfield.
MO | 660-895-5123 - MU Extension in Livingston County
MU Extension in Livingston County, serving Chillicothe-area producers and 4-H and FFA fair exhibitors; phone 660-646-0811.
MO | 660-646-0811 - MU Extension in Macon County
Macon County office of University of Missouri Extension on North Rollins Street, offering 4-H clubs, agriculture and horticulture programs and community education.
111 N. Rollins St., Macon, MO 63552 | 660-385-2173 Website
Plus 17 more. Find yours on your county's page in the Missouri directory.
Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.