Alabama Cooperative Extension System

What Alabama Cooperative Extension System does

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES), founded in 1914, is the primary outreach organization for the land-grant mission of Alabama A&M University and Auburn University, with Tuskegee University serving as a cooperating partner. Headquartered at Duncan Hall on the Auburn University campus and staffed by 742 Extension employees, ACES operates county offices in all 67 Alabama counties plus nine Urban Extension centers, delivering research-based educational programming in agriculture, 4-H youth development, family sciences, forestry and wildlife, food safety, community development, and urban extension. Reached audiences in the most recent reporting period include 111,343 Alabama 4-H members, 52,002 SNAP-Ed and EFNEP nutrition participants, 38,206 attendees across 303 forestry and natural resources programs, and 10,000 high-school seniors through the Alabama FAST financial aid program.

ACES runs an event-driven, in-person-and-digital go-to-market model combining county-based field agents, statewide webinar series (Natural Resources biweekly, TreeStrong Forest Health monthly), an online Extension publications store at secure.touchnet.net, and a multimedia presence spanning YouTube, podcasts, and social channels. Core products include Alabama 4-H, Your Money Your Life financial simulation for middle-schoolers, the Alabama Goat and Sheep Summit, the Alabama Master Naturalist certification program, Professional Logging Manager training, the Marble Bowl iNaturalist citizen science competition, and the Green Up Alabama urban forestry initiative. Underlying technology is a standard web platform with Zoom webinar delivery, a YouTube video library, podcast distribution, and a staff/county office directory database — with no disclosed AI/ML, API, or SDK surface.

ACES is funded primarily through federal (USDA), state, and county government appropriations, supplemented by nominal event and registration fees (e.g., $40 for Pollinator Partners of Alabama Certification Training); the substantial majority of programs and services are free to Alabama residents. It is structured as a government/state entity jointly governed by two land-grant universities rather than a privately held company, with no equity funding, M&A activity, or revenue disclosure in the input data.

Name

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Legal name

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Website

https://aces.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1914

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System delivers land-grant university research-based education to Alabama residents through 742 staff in all 67 counties and nine urban centers, serving youth (111,343 4-H members), farmers, forest landowners, urban communities, and K-12 schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cooperative Extension Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (611710), Other Schools and Instruction (6116)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce & Career Transition Noncredit Programs (EDAAAEAC), Health, Wellness & Lifestyle Noncredit Programs (EDAAAEAH), Regional Education Service Agencies (ESAs/BOCES/Intermediate Units) (EDADABAC)

Keywords

• Cooperative extension services
• Agricultural education programs
• Youth development programs
• Natural resources education
• Community outreach education

Headquarters

HQ city

Basalt

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding: Alabama Cooperative Extension System operates as a publicly funded outreach organization for the land-grant mission of Alabama A&M University and Auburn University in cooperation with Tuskegee University. Funding comes from federal, state, and county government allocations.
2. Event Registration and Program Fees: Some educational events and programs charge nominal registration fees. For example, the Pollinator Partners of Alabama Certification Training has a $40 registration fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System delivers non-degree, research-based educational programming to Alabama residents across agriculture, 4-H youth development, forestry and natural resources, family and consumer sciences, urban extension, and community development. Programming is delivered through 67 county offices, nine urban centers, statewide webinar series, field days, workshops, publications, and digital media. Most services are provided free of charge, with nominal fees on select certification events.

Product overview

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System is a land-grant outreach organization operating as a unified portfolio of educational programs and services rather than a single software product. The organization delivers its mission through multiple distinct programs including Alabama 4-H (youth development reaching 111,000+ students), the Your Money Your Life financial literacy simulation, the Alabama Goat and Sheep Summit for livestock producers, and the TreeStrong Alabama Forest Health Webinar Series. Core service delivery occurs through 742 Extension employees in 67 county offices, nine Urban Extension centers, statewide webinar series (Natural Resources, TreeStrong), and the Alabama Master Naturalist volunteer certification program. Additional offerings include Professional Logging Manager training, the Marble Bowl citizen science competition, Green Up Alabama urban forestry initiatives, and the Forestry, Wildlife & Natural Resources education programs with youth competitions. The organization connects Alabama A&M University and Auburn University research to communities through practical, research-based educational programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alabama 4-H: Youth development program for children and teenagers
• ACES

Products and services

• Alabama 4-H
• Your Money, Your Life Real-life financial simulation program for middle school (eighth-grade) students that assigns careers and salaries, guiding participants through budgeting decisions for housing, food, transportation, and unexpected expenses to build financial literacy.
• Alabama Goat and Sheep Summit Annual summit focused on sustainable small-ruminant production, food security, and workforce development featuring hands-on training, expert sessions, and 4-H youth activities covering animal health, grazing, and value-added production.
• TreeStrong Alabama Forest Health Webinar Series Monthly webinar series providing actionable insights on forest health challenges including pests, pathogens, and environmental stressors, with continuing education credits for foresters and professional loggers.
• Natural Resources Webinar Series Biweekly virtual outreach series covering forestry, wildlife, and natural resources topics with continuing education credits available for registered foresters and professional loggers.
• Alabama Master Naturalist Program Statewide volunteer certification program requiring completion of 22 online modules, two field days, and 30 volunteer hours to promote awareness and stewardship of Alabama's natural resources.
• Green Up Alabama Urban forestry initiative to revitalize small and rural communities by planting trees and training local workers in tree-care, storm-response, and arboricultural skills over a 5-year period.
• Professional Logging Manager (PLM) Training Initial training and annual continuing forestry education (CFE) program for loggers covering sustainable forestry practices, logging safety, biodiversity, wildlife conservation, and water quality best management practices.
• Marble Bowl Citizen Science Competition Online biodiversity observation competition using the iNaturalist platform, engaging college teams to log wildlife observations across Alabama during football season.
• Forestry, Wildlife & Natural Resources Education Programs Educational outreach including Project WILD, Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP), 4-H Forestry Invitational, and statewide competitions for youth and adults on species identification, habitat management, and conservation practices.
• County Extension Offices Local Extension offices in all 67 Alabama counties providing one-on-one guidance, workshops, and educational programs connecting communities with university research and resources.
• Urban Extension Extension programming operating out of nine urban centers providing resources and education for urban communities and populations with limited access to rural Extension services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 111,343 Alabama 4-H members reached in 2024-2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Auburn UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary land-grant university partner for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Auburn University provides research-based expertise and educational programming through Extension agents and specialists in agriculture, natural resources, youth development, and family sciences.
• Alabama A&M UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner1890 land-grant university partner for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Alabama A&M provides specialized programming through its Urban Extension initiatives and the Virginia Caples Lifelong Learning Institute.
• Tuskegee UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperating university partner in the land-grant mission alongside Auburn University and Alabama A&M University, contributing to the cooperative extension system.
• US Department of Agriculture Forest ServicemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency partner providing funding and technical support for forestry education, Green Up Alabama urban forestry initiative, and forest health programming.
• Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural ResourcesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner collaborating on wildlife management education, natural resources programming, and hunter safety through the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division.
• Alabama Forestry CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner providing free landowner assistance, forest management planning, and cost-share programs through county foresters in almost every Alabama county.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation ServicemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency partner providing cost-share and technical assistance to landowners for conservation practices, forest management, and agricultural improvements.
• Alabama Agricultural Experiment StationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch arm at Auburn University operating 13 outlying research and extension units across Alabama, supporting graduate student research and field trials.
• The People's Patch Community FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner farm in Huntsville hosting the Alabama Goat and Sheep Summit and providing urban agriculture education venue.
• Georgia Master Naturalist, Florida Master Naturalist, South Carolina Master NaturalistminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner programs collaborating on a monthly webinar series for naturalist education across the Southeast.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• University of Florida IFAS Extension: UF/IFAS Extension delivers research-based education through all 67 Florida counties in agriculture, natural resources, family/consumer sciences, and 4-H youth development. Direct peer: same land-grant university cooperative extension model, similar Southeast geography, and overlapping forestry/agriculture program offerings (Master Naturalist, Forest Health).
• NC State Extension: NC State Extension operates as North Carolina's land-grant outreach arm with 101 county centers and 4-H, agriculture, and forestry programming. Directly comparable in structure, scale, and Southeast U.S. context, with strong forestry and small-ruminant livestock programming overlap with Alabama Extension.
• University of Georgia Cooperative Extension: UGA Cooperative Extension serves all 159 Georgia counties with agriculture, 4-H, and family sciences programming. Comparable land-grant model with overlapping Master Naturalist collaboration (joint webinar series with Alabama Extension) and forestry/natural resources focus.
• Virginia Cooperative Extension: Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia Tech and Virginia State) operates as a dual-university land-grant extension system analogous to Alabama Extension's Auburn-Alabama A&M structure. Direct peer by mission, scale, and tri-university cooperative model.
• Clemson Cooperative Extension: Clemson Extension is South Carolina's land-grant extension service with agriculture, 4-H, forestry, and natural resources programming. Direct peer: same 1862 land-grant university structure, similar Southeast geography, and active Master Naturalist collaboration partner with Alabama Extension.
• Mississippi State University Extension Service: Mississippi State Extension is the neighboring land-grant extension service operating across Mississippi's counties with parallel programming in agriculture, 4-H, forestry, and family/consumer sciences. Highly comparable geographic and programmatic peer in the Southeast U.S.

Broad incumbents

• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is the largest state cooperative extension system in the U.S., delivering 4-H, agriculture, and community education across Texas's 254 counties. It is the closest analog to Alabama Extension by mission, structure, and land-grant university backing, though it operates at substantially greater scale.

Others

• National 4-H Council: National 4-H Council is the private-sector partner that supports the 4-H youth development program nationwide. Alabama Extension's 4-H program (111,343 members) operates under this national umbrella, sharing curriculum, branding, and programmatic standards.
• USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA): NIFA is the federal agency that administers Smith-Lever Act funding to all U.S. cooperative extension systems, including Alabama Extension. It is the parent funding authority and policy coordinator for the cooperative extension network nationally.
• Auburn University College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment: While not a separate entity, Auburn's College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment is the research partner that supplies Alabama Extension's forestry content and Extension specialists. This is the academic counterparty that drives the TreeStrong and Natural Resources Webinar Series content.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ACESedu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AlabamaExtension/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/AlabamaCooperativeExtensionSystem
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alabama-cooperative-extension-system
• Instagraminstagram.com/alabamaextension

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alabama Cooperative Extension System