In July 2004 the Agricultural Extension Service changed its name to UT Extension, reflecting a broader mission. As early as 1910, two county-based agricultural agents were helping Tennesseans with cotton production and home canning. In 1912 President Ayres unveiled plans for a formal agricultural structure. In 1913 the Tennessee legislature passed a bill creating a Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service. A $5,000 grant from the state allowed UT to establish the Department of Agricultural Extension, with Charles Keffer as director. The passage of the Smith-Lever Act in 1914 made the Extension Service permanent, and UT dates its Agricultural Extension Service from July 1, 1914, when some 20 county agents, 22 home demonstration agents, and 8 other staff members who were already providing agricultural and rural education, were organized under the Smith-Lever Act as part of the UT Division of Extension. The Division began (and continues) to issue bulletins containing Agricultural Experiment Station, now AgResearch, findings and other information for farmers and homemakers and established a network of county agents.
UT Extension has agents in all 95 Tennessee counties. Following the creation, in 1968, of a university system, the Extension Service, Experiment Station, and College of Agriculture were joined as entities of the Knoxville campus. In 1970 President-elect Edward Boling announced that the Extension and Experiment Station functions would be transferred to the UT system, and the board of trustees endorsed his plan at its April 18 meeting.