Extension is a partnership between state, federal, and county governments to provide scientific information and conduct educational programs for the public. The Smith-Lever Act of 1914 established cooperative extension as a collaborative effort between the land grant university, the United States Department of Agriculture and the state government.  This Act provided federal money to land-grant universities to offer educational programs beyond their campuses. Pinellas County is one of 67 counties that participate in the cooperative extension service.