More Information About Virginia Cooperative Extension

What is Cooperative Extension? Cooperative Extension serves as a link between land-grant universities and the community. It provides outreach to the average citizen and works to disseminate the latest information and research produced at those universities. Virginia’s land-grant universities are Virginia Tech (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University) and Virginia State University.

In all states where the Cooperative Extension program exists, Extension Master Gardeners (EMG) are trained and supervised with Cooperative Extension, which created the EMG program. When an individual volunteers as an EMG, they act as a representative of Cooperative Extension. 

The EMG program is a volunteer education partnership with VCE dedicated to working with the community to teach, encourage, and promote environmentally sound horticulture practices…a unique group of volunteers trained under the guidance of VCE… to provide a network of horticultural programs and activities to enhance communities, protect the environment, and educate others.

VCE Extension Master Gardeners contribute to the improvement of horticultural practices in the community and work with other organizations and agencies to share knowledge and coordinate efforts, thus providing the greatest benefit to the local community.