UK was founded in 1865 as one of the nation’s first land grant universities. Land grant institutions were established by the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890, which allowed the federal government to appoint a parcel of land to states for sale or development to create state universities. All 50 states in the U.S. have at least one land grant university. The mission of all land grant institutions is a threefold focus on research, education, and service. In keeping with this mission, Cooperative Extension was established to serve the community and bring knowledge from the lab to the field.

Kentucky’s Cooperative Extension Service is funded at the local, state, and federal levels and places representatives in each of Kentucky’s 120 counties to teach residents about the latest research from UK and Kentucky State University, Kentucky’s other land grant institution. Areas of information and education in each county include agriculture, home and family, youth, environment, and economic development. While there is some variation in the county and state programs, horses are a large part of the life and infrastructure in Kentucky and, therefore, a large part of extension.

Cooperative Extension provides information and programs online and in person to both adults and youth