What OSU Extension Does for Oregonians
Oregon State University Extension Service is the university's outreach arm, and it keeps offices across the state. Its Find Us page lists offices in 36 Oregon counties, each with a street address and usually a phone number, plus one tribal entry for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. The topic areas on that page run from animals and livestock, crop production, forests and rangelands, and water to gardening, food, business and economics, and youth, families and health. If you farm, ranch, garden, raise a 4-H animal or just have a question about a pest, a pressure canner or a pasture, the county office is the place to start.
Finding Your County Office
Use the Find Us page and look up your county. Entries are alphabetical and show the address, city and phone number, and some list specific staff or programs such as 4-H, Master Gardener helplines or Family and Community Health. Some counties have more than one site:
- Lane County lists satellite offices in Florence and Oakridge.
- Malheur County lists a satellite office in Ontario.
- Umatilla County lists satellite offices in Hermiston and Milton-Freewater.
- Columbia and Washington counties list drop boxes for after-hours use.
- Three entries are research and extension centers: the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center in Jackson County, the Central Oregon Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Jefferson County and the Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Umatilla County.
Not sure which office fits your question? The page also links to Ask Extension, which handles questions that do not belong to one county.
4-H: The Youth Side
Oregon 4-H grew out of the same land-grant system. The Oregon Encyclopedia says the first Oregon 4-H programs launched in 1914 to teach young people practical skills such as animal rearing and home economics, with support from Oregon State Agricultural College, now Oregon State University. Today the county Extension office is where families enroll, where leases and project records are filed and where fair rules are explained.
County fair books show how much of that work runs through the local office. The 2026 Union County fair book says members must be enrolled in a 4-H project by the February 1 deadline, lists age divisions of Cloverbud 5-8, Junior 9-11, Intermediate 12-14 and Senior 15-19 (ages as of September 1 of the previous year), and requires YQCA training to show, which can be completed at the Extension office or through an approved agricultural instructor. The Umatilla County fair book, in the combined fair book for that fair, uses a January 31 enrollment date instead. Deadlines differ by county, so ask your own office before you buy an animal.
Master Gardeners
OSU's local Master Gardener programs page lists programs covering 28 Oregon counties. Some programs serve several counties together, such as Central Oregon Master Gardeners for Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson, the Metro Area program for Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington, and a joint program for Linn and Benton. Single-county programs include Baker, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Marion, Umatilla, Union and Yamhill. The page points gardeners to a "Find Your Local Master Gardener Program" page and to Ask Extension for plant questions. Some county entries on the Find Us page also list Master Gardener plant clinics and helplines.
Help for Farms, Ranches and Small Acreage
For producers, the value of Extension is local, research-based advice. The research centers named above are in Jackson, Jefferson and Umatilla counties. County offices can point you to topic pages on livestock, crop production, forests and rangelands, and water, and some list Home Food Safety and Preservation services, including pressure gauge testing and a helpline. Other county offices handle business and economics questions. Bring specifics: a photo of the problem, a map of the field, a soil or plant sample if your office asks for one.
How to Get the Most From Your Office
- Call before you drive. Some offices list limited staff, and a few counties have drop boxes for after-hours paperwork.
- Ask which programs serve your county, because Master Gardener and 4-H programs are organized locally.
- Check the Find Us page for satellite offices if the main county office is far away.
- For youth livestock, get the current fair book from your 4-H office and note every date, from enrollment to ownership to weigh-in.
- For land and water questions, ask whether your local soil and water conservation district should be in the conversation too. Our conservation districts guide explains how they work.
A Few Practical Notes
Extension fair books are a good example of why local confirmation matters. The Union County book itself lists several internal conflicts to verify, including different record book deadlines and steer minimum weights in different sections, and tells exhibitors to confirm details with the Extension office. If a published guide can disagree with itself, a general website certainly can disagree with your county. Treat any page, including this one, as a map and your county Extension office as the final word.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Oregon counties have an Extension office?
The Find Us page lists 36 Oregon counties plus a Warm Springs tribal entry.
Who runs the Master Gardener program?
OSU Extension, through local programs that cover 28 counties. Some serve several counties together.
Where do I enroll my child in 4-H?
Through your county 4-H office. Enrollment deadlines for fair participation differ by county, with February 1 in Union County and January 31 in Umatilla County in the fair books cited above.
Does Extension have offices on farms?
It has three research and extension centers listed on the Find Us page, in Jackson, Jefferson and Umatilla counties.
Where do I ask a question that is not about my county?
Use the Ask Extension link on the Find Us page.
Oregon Listings Covered by This Guide
- Union County 4-H Livestock Tag-In
Evening tag-in sessions for sheep, goat and swine projects held at the Union County Fair Grounds in late May before the fair. Next dates are May 19, 20 and 26, 2027.
La Grande, OR | 541-786-1788 | Organizer: Union County 4-H Official event details - Lincoln County 4-H Dog Show
Morning 4-H dog show held at the Newport Armory ahead of the county fair, with awards presented in early July. Held each year; the most recent date was June 27, 2026.
Newport, OR | 541-574-6534 | Organizer: Lincoln County 4-H Official event details - Lincoln County 4-H Flower Arranging and Table Setting Contests
Afternoon 4-H contests in flower arranging at 2 PM and table setting at 3:30 PM, held alongside static exhibit judging. Held each year; the most recent date was June 28, 2026.
Newport, OR | 541-574-6534 | Organizer: Lincoln County 4-H Official event details - Wallowa County 4-H Horse Show
Two-day 4-H horse show with morning starts, part of the Wallowa County Fair schedule. Held each year; the most recent dates were August 3 and 4, 2026.
668 NW 1st Street, Enterprise, OR 97828 | 541-426-4097 | Organizer: Wallowa County 4-H Official event details - Wallowa County 4-H Dog Show
One-day 4-H dog show on the first Saturday of the Wallowa County Fair, starting at 9 AM. Held each year; the most recent date was August 1, 2026.
668 NW 1st Street, Enterprise, OR 97828 | 541-426-4097 | Organizer: Wallowa County 4-H Official event details - Wasco County 4-H and FFA Livestock Shows
In 2026 a nearby wildfire moved Wasco County youth livestock shows to the Hood River County Fairgrounds, with free admission and the auction on Saturday. Most recent dates were August 14 and 15, 2026.
Hood River, OR | Organizer: Wasco County 4-H Official event details - Benton County 4-H Youth Development
OSU Extension 4-H program that runs fair registration, YQCA training and livestock judging and marketing contests for Benton County youth.
Corvallis, OR - Clackamas County 4-H Youth Development
OSU Extension 4-H program organizing the horse, dog and livestock fairs and naming superintendents for each livestock species.
Oregon City, OR - Clatsop County 4-H Youth Development
OSU Extension 4-H program that publishes the fair guide and entry forms for the Clatsop County Fair livestock and exhibit classes.
Astoria, OR - Crook County 4-H Youth Development
OSU Extension 4-H program hosting the Crook/Jefferson Horse Fair, a tri-county livestock judging contest and fair dry camping for exhibitors.
Prineville, OR - Curry County 4-H Youth Development
OSU Extension 4-H program for Curry County that holds shows and exhibits at the county fair, including a junior livestock auction.
Gold Beach, OR | 541-247-4541 - Deschutes County 4-H Program
OSU Extension 4-H program in Deschutes County that partners with the county fair and FFA on livestock projects for youth.
Bend, OR | 541-548-6088 - Douglas County 4-H Youth Development
OSU Extension 4-H program whose county fair lets youth show project skills, with qualifiers eligible for the Oregon State Fair.
Roseburg, OR - Gilliam County 4-H Youth Development
OSU Extension 4-H program that organizes exhibits and clean-up days for the Gilliam County Fair in Condon.
Condon, OR - Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center
Oregon State University center in Hermiston researching potatoes, melons, onions and irrigated Columbia Basin crops.
Hermiston, OR - Jackson County 4-H Youth Development
OSU Extension 4-H program publishing a 2026-27 calendar with beef, sheep, goat and swine tagging dates and spring and summer fairs.
Central Point, OR - Jefferson County 4-H Youth Development
OSU Extension 4-H program for Jefferson County that issues the annual 4-H rule book and hosts the tri-county judging contest.
Madras, OR - Klamath Basin Research and Extension Center
Oregon State University center in Klamath Falls serving Klamath Basin potato, alfalfa and cereal growers.
Klamath Falls, OR - Klamath County 4-H Youth Development
OSU Extension 4-H program based in the Stillwell Building at the fairgrounds, supporting 4-H and FFA exhibitors and the Alternative Stock Show Classic.
Klamath Falls, OR | 541-883-7131 - Lincoln County Extension 4-H
Lincoln County extension office guiding 4-H dog show, static exhibits and market animal projects for the Newport fair.
Newport, OR | 541-574-6534 - Linn County 4-H Program
Linn County 4-H provides animal science, static exhibit, FFA and Cloverbud fair books plus county and state contest materials.
Albany, OR Website - Marion County 4-H Office
Marion County 4-H office handling fair camping, exhibit hall entries and livestock fair details for youth at the Salem fairgrounds.
Salem, OR | 503-373-3767 Website - Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension Center
Oregon State University center in Hood River studying pear, apple and cherry orchard production in the Columbia Gorge.
Hood River, OR - Morrow County 4-H Program
OSU Extension 4-H in Morrow County that runs the county fair, the youth livestock auction and animal project support.
Heppner, OR Website - Morrow County Grain Growers
Farm cooperative operating since the early 1930s with locations in Lexington, Wasco, Ione and Heppner, offering grain storage, fuel, equipment, crop nutrients and seed to more than 650 members.
Lexington, OR | 541-989-8221 - North Willamette Research and Extension Center
Oregon State University center at Aurora supporting nursery, berry, hazelnut and vegetable growers in the northern Willamette Valley.
Aurora, OR - OSU Extension Service - Baker County
Baker County office of the Oregon State University Extension Service in Baker City, offering 4-H youth, agriculture, gardening and community programs for local residents.
2600 East St, Baker City, OR 97814 | 541-523-6418 Website - OSU Extension Service - Benton County
OSU Extension Service office for Benton County, based in Corvallis; the local contact for 4-H, Master Gardener, farm and natural resource programs.
4077 SW Research Way, Ste 107, Corvallis, OR 97333 | 541-713-5000 Website - OSU Extension Service - Clackamas County
Local Oregon State University Extension team serving Clackamas County from Oregon City, with research-based help for growers, ranchers, families and 4-H members.
1021 Courthouse Rd., Oregon City, OR 97045 | 503-655-8631 Website - OSU Extension Service - Clatsop County
Clatsop County office of the Oregon State University Extension Service in Astoria, offering 4-H youth, agriculture, gardening and community programs for local residents.
2001 Marine Dr Room 210, Astoria, OR 97103 | 503-325-8573 Website - OSU Extension Service - Columbia County
OSU Extension Service office for Columbia County, based in St Helens; the local contact for 4-H, Master Gardener, farm and natural resource programs.
505 North Columbia River Highway, St Helens, OR 97051 | 503-397-3462 Website - OSU Extension Service - Coos County
Local Oregon State University Extension team serving Coos County from Myrtle Point, with research-based help for growers, ranchers, families and 4-H members.
631 Alder Street, Myrtle Point, OR 97458 | 541-572-5263 Website - OSU Extension Service - Crook County
Crook County office of the Oregon State University Extension Service in Prineville, offering 4-H youth, agriculture, gardening and community programs for local residents.
498 SE Lynn Blvd, Prineville, OR 97754 | 541-447-6228 Website - OSU Extension Service - Curry County
OSU Extension Service office for Curry County, based in Gold Beach; the local contact for 4-H, Master Gardener, farm and natural resource programs.
29390 Ellensburg Ave., Gold Beach, OR 97444 | 541-247-6672 Website - OSU Extension Service - Deschutes County
Local Oregon State University Extension team serving Deschutes County from Redmond, with research-based help for growers, ranchers, families and 4-H members.
3800 SW Airport Way, Building #4, Redmond, OR 97756 | 541-548-6088 Website - OSU Extension Service - Douglas County
Douglas County office of the Oregon State University Extension Service in Roseburg, offering 4-H youth, agriculture, gardening and community programs for local residents.
1134 SE Douglas Ave, Roseburg, OR 97470 | 541-672-4461 Website - OSU Extension Service - Gilliam County
OSU Extension Service office for Gilliam County, based in Condon; the local contact for 4-H, Master Gardener, farm and natural resource programs.
135 S Main St., Condon, OR 97823 | (541) 442-2271 Website - OSU Extension Service - Harney County
Harney County office of the Oregon State University Extension Service in Burns, offering 4-H youth, agriculture, gardening and community programs for local residents.
450 N Buena Vista Ave, Burns, OR 97720 | 541-573-2506 Website - OSU Extension Service - Hood River County
OSU Extension Service office for Hood River County, based in Hood River; the local contact for 4-H, Master Gardener, farm and natural resource programs.
2990 Experiment Station Drive, Hood River, OR 97031 | 541-386-3343 Website - OSU Extension Service - Josephine County
OSU Extension Service office for Josephine County, based in Grants Pass; the local contact for 4-H, Master Gardener, farm and natural resource programs.
3345 Redwood Hwy, Building V, Grants Pass, OR 97527 | 541-241-3050 Website
Plus 23 more. Find yours on your county's page in the Oregon directory.
Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.