The University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) was established in 1891 alongside the founding of the College of Agriculture on the Laramie campus. It was created under the provisions of the federal Hatch Act of 1887 to support scientific agricultural research. Simultaneously, a network of experiment farms was established in Laramie, Lander, Saratoga, Sheridan, Sundance, and Wheatland. In the early years of the university, most agricultural activity occurred at these farms, with minimal classroom enrollment in the agricultural program. Even as enrollment in college-based coursework increased, the experiment stations remained a cornerstone of agricultural education and research in Wyoming.

From 1892 to 1903, the president of the university served concurrently as director of the experiment stations, and from 1907 to 1983, the dual role of dean of the College of Agriculture and director of the stations was maintained. In 1923, the state farms, which had previously operated independently, were brought under university control. The 1940s marked a period of innovation, as the University of Wyoming experiment stations led in founding the Wyoming Crop Improvement Association. This initiative eventually gave rise to the Wyoming Seed Certification Service, administered by the College of Agriculture, further embedding the university's role in statewide agricultural development. As of 2025, the AES system includes the Laramie Research and Extension Center, the Powell Research and Extension Center, the Sheridan Research and Extension Center, and the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Lingle.