Extension Forestry had its beginnings in 1917 when the farm forestry extension program was established within the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service. Funding for a forestry extension agent was erratic during the early years, and permanent funding only came in 1925. Robert Walter Graeber began his service as extension forester during that year, and at his retirement in 1949 he led a program of eight foresters.

In 1958 Extension Forestry split into Extension Forest Management and Extension Wood Products. In 1962 administration of the forestry extension specialists was transferred from NCSU's School of Agriculture to its School of Forestry. In 1973 the name was changed to Extension Forest Resources, but it changed again at a later date.