How to Find Your Local ISU Extension and Outreach Office or Resource

Updated

To find your local office or a specific resource, start with the County Office Locator on the ISU Extension and Outreach website. From the same main navigation you can also reach the Extension Store (publications and materials), Hotlines and Ask an Expert (direct questions), and Courses and the Staff Directory (programs and people). Use the locator when you need in-person or county-level help; use the other entries when you need a publication, a program, or a person.

Start with the County Office Locator

ISU Extension and Outreach works through campus and regional specialists plus staff in 100 county extension offices. That county structure is the reason the locator is the right first stop for local questions.

  1. Open the ISU Extension and Outreach homepage.
  2. In the main navigation, select County Office Locator.
  3. Choose your county (or search by location) to reach the office that serves you.
  4. Use the office's contact details for local program questions, events, or to be routed to the right specialist.

Expected result: you land on the office that covers your county, rather than a general campus contact. A common snag is choosing a campus department when the question is really county-level — if your question is about local programs, volunteers, or 4-H clubs, the county office is usually the faster route.

Match the resource to your need

The homepage navigation groups its entry points by purpose. Pick the one that matches what you're trying to do:

If you need… Use this entry point What it gives you
The office nearest you County Office Locator County extension office contacts
Publications, materials, or products Extension Store Extension publications and materials
A direct answer to a question Hotlines or Ask an Expert Ways to ask questions and get a response
A class or structured learning Courses Course listings and registration paths
A specific person Staff Directory Staff contacts across the organization
Disaster-related guidance Disaster Readiness Preparedness and response resources
Professional development Professional Development Training offerings for professionals

Two more navigation entries help with orientation: 4-H Youth Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Community and Economic Development, and Health and Human Sciences are the program areas, so if you already know your topic, start there and then use the locator for local delivery.

Check current programs and news before you call

The homepage features current announcements, which is useful for confirming that a program is active and for deadlines. Recent examples include registration for the Iowa Donation Garden Network (opening for 2027 community gardens), a drone workshop preparing participants for FAA Part 107 certification, a Local Food Leader 101 workshop on Dec. 10–11, 4-H staff recognition, and grants to five Iowa communities for rural housing needs. If your question relates to one of these, the news item usually names the program and the next step, which can save a call.

Verify you've reached the right place

Before relying on a contact, confirm three things: the county matches where you live or work, the program area matches your topic, and the page shows a current date or active registration where relevant. If a page lists an event date that has passed, go back to the program area page or the County Office Locator rather than the old announcement.

For the broader question of what the organization is and how it is structured, see the related explainer on what Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is; this guide assumes you already know you need a local office or a specific resource.