Extension’s mission is to connect people with the University of Wisconsin. We teach, learn, lead and serve, transforming lives and communities.
Want to get the latest updates from Extension directly in your inbox?
Become a Master Naturalist
Trainings are a series of sessions and field experiences that presents a consistent, statewide perspective on Wisconsin’s natural history, ecological processes, and conservation issues.
Ask a Food Question
Wisconsin residents can now call the AnswerLine, provided through a partnership between UW–Madison Extension and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, for trusted, research-based help with canning, freezing, drying, and more.
Ask Your Gardening Question
Looking for expert advice on a lawn, landscape or gardening issue?
Latest News
- Learning happens in all kinds of formats and locations. Sharing what you know with peers is a valuable way to pass along information about what works and what does not. More formally, learning from peers enables networking, which cultivates like-minded groups that are able to support one another and thrive. UW-Madison Extension incorporates peer-to-peer learning […]
- 2026 Final Projects Funded by a 2-year UW-Madison Reilly-Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Grant, 12 Youth in Governance students took part in a pilot program focused on teaching youth how to conduct community-based research and produce videos sharing youth perspectives. Here are there 2026 final projects:
- Patrol Captain Mike Kowalski believes in giving teens a second chance. For youth, a citation can have negative impacts on their future. They can find themselves disqualified for military service or have difficulty securing student loans. Disclosing a violation on a job or college application can reduce their chances of success. And that has an […]
Extension’s Work Reaches Across Wisconsin
We help more than 200,000 farmers, parents, youth leaders, neighbors and businesses through our six program areas
Know what you’re looking for?
The Wisconsin Idea
Extension’s Role
UW-Madison is a public university guided by public service. The Wisconsin Idea stipulates that education should influence people’s lives beyond the boundaries of the classroom.
Extension brings the research of the University to the people of Wisconsin. Our offices throughout the state provide educational opportunities in the communities where people live and work.
I shall never be content until the beneficent influence of the University reaches every family of the state.
UW President Charles Van Hise in 1905
