UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

What UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County does

UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County is a local county-level office of the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences cooperative extension service, operating as a government state entity under a federal-state-county funding partnership. It provides research-based educational programs in agriculture, natural resources, family sciences, lawn and garden, and youth development to Florida residents and industry professionals. Its core technology stack centers on the EDIS digital library (7,000+ research-based publications), the UF/IFAS Extension Online Learning platform (Canvas/Instructure LMS for 24/7 CEU courses), mobile-responsive web applications, and an in-person event infrastructure spanning all 67 Florida counties and supported by a trained volunteer network (Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, Master Beekeepers). Pricing and revenue mechanics are primarily appropriations-driven and free to the public, with limited fee-based programs including tiered short course registrations ($300-$500), diagnostic services ($8-$40 per sample), and corporate event sponsorships ($1,500-$4,500). The organization serves a horizontally segmented customer base including homeowners, licensed pesticide applicators, youth via Florida 4-H, certified volunteers, and public agencies. Founded within the University of Florida (established 1853) and operating under the Smith-Lever Act of 1914, it is structurally insulated from commercial competition by statute but lacks traditional commercial revenue growth signals.

Name

UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

Legal name

University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Website

https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1853

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County delivers University of Florida research-based education in agriculture, natural resources, lawn and garden, family sciences, and 4-H youth development to Florida residents and industry professionals through county offices, online courses, and volunteer networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cooperative Extension Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Cooperative extension services
• Agricultural education
• Youth development programs
• Continuing education training
• Horticulture and landscaping

Headquarters

HQ city

Sarasota, Florida

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Public Funding: UF/IFAS Extension is funded through a partnership between state, federal, and county governments as part of the University of Florida and Florida A&M University cooperative extension service.
2. Conference and Training Fees: Revenue generated from short courses, certification programs, and continuing education units (CEUs) such as the Aquatic Weed Control Short Course with registration fees ranging from $300-$500.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County is a public cooperative extension service that delivers University of Florida research-based education to Florida residents through the Sarasota County office, online learning, and in-person programming. Core offerings include agricultural and natural resources education, family resources, lawn and garden guidance, 4-H youth development, and professional continuing education/training (CEUs) for pesticide applicators and industry professionals.

Product overview

UF/IFAS Extension is a multi-faceted educational organization administered by the University of Florida providing scientific knowledge and expertise to Florida residents through county offices, online platforms, and in-person programs. The core offering includes UF/IFAS Extension (the main service), supplemented by specialized programs including Florida 4-H Youth Development, Florida Master Gardener/Naturalist/Beekeeper volunteer certification programs, the Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program, and the 50-year-old Aquatic Weed Control Short Course. Digital resources include the EDIS library (7,000+ publications), UF/IFAS Extension Online Learning (Canvas-based CEU courses), Florida School IPM, and Florida Plant Diagnostic Network. These programs collectively address agriculture, natural resources, youth development, family sciences, lawn and garden, and environmental sustainability across all 67 Florida counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Florida 4-H Youth Development Program: Statewide youth development program cultivating leadership in youth through hands-on learning opportunities
• Florida Master Gardener Program
• Florida Master Naturalist Program
• Florida Master Beekeeper Program
• Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program
• Aquatic Weed Control Short Course

Quantifiable outcome

• Reaches all 67 Florida counties with extension programming
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFDACS is the state agency responsible for pesticide applicator licensing and regulation. UF/IFAS Extension works with FDACS to provide certification exams, CEU programs, and training materials for pesticide applicators in Florida.
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSDA partners with land-grant universities including University of Florida to fund cooperative extension services. The USDA NIFA (National Institute of Food and Agriculture) provides federal funding for extension programs.
• All 67 Florida County GovernmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUF/IFAS Extension operates through county-level cooperative extension offices funded by state, federal, and county government partnerships. Each county hosts an extension office providing local services.
• Florida A&M UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlong with the University of Florida, Florida A&M University (FAMU) administers the Florida Cooperative Extension Service as a historically black land-grant institution.
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFWC is the state's lead agency for aquatic plant management. UF/IFAS provides training and education supporting FWC's mission to manage invasive plants while conserving aquatic habitats.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPA collaborates with UF/IFAS on pesticide safety education, integrated pest management, and water resource protection programs.
• DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando Theme Park ResortminorOthersHost venue for the annual Aquatic Weed Control Short Course, offering negotiated room rates of $135/night with breakfast included for attendees.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Penn State Extension: Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences' outreach arm delivering non-credit continuing education, master gardener programs, and applied research dissemination across Pennsylvania — directly comparable in scope and online learning model.
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service: Land-grant university extension service covering all 254 Texas counties with research-based education in agriculture, natural resources, and family sciences — the closest structural and functional analogue to UF/IFAS Extension.
• Cornell Cooperative Extension: New York state's land-grant extension network offering county-based programming, Master Gardener volunteer training, and 4-H youth development — highly comparable mission and distributed delivery model.
• Michigan State University Extension: MSU's extension arm operating statewide with applied research education, Master Gardener programs, and agricultural CEU offerings — closely comparable in mission, geographic coverage, and online learning approach.
• Clemson Cooperative Extension: South Carolina's land-grant extension service with county offices, Master Gardener volunteers, and 4-H — directly comparable scale, mission, and delivery model in a neighboring Southeastern state.
• University of Georgia Cooperative Extension: UGA's statewide extension service covering all 159 Georgia counties with agriculture, family, and youth programming — directly comparable peer with similar land-grant mission.
• NC State Cooperative Extension: North Carolina's land-grant extension service delivering research-based education in agriculture, food, and youth development across all 100 counties — comparable scope, funding structure, and 4-H integration.
• UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR): University of California's statewide extension and applied research arm covering agriculture, natural resources, and youth development — comparable research-to-extension pipeline and master gardener program.
• Oregon State University Extension Service: OSU's statewide extension service with county offices, Master Gardener program, and applied research education — directly comparable scope and online learning platform strategy.
• Virginia Cooperative Extension: Virginia Tech and Virginia State University's joint extension service delivering research-based education across Virginia counties — comparable institutional partnership structure (two land-grant universities).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ufsarasotaext

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County