A woman wearing a white shirt with red and blue stars holds a potted plant in a garden.

The annual Christmas Cactus Showcase in Brooksville each December features anywhere from 45 to 60 colorful cacti, most of which are under the year-round care of Pat Hill.

A group of teens examining a plant with a teacher.

When teachers and administrators at Leland School Park began taking steps to install a school garden in 2019, they had no idea they would get a first-of-its-kind outdoor classroom.

A smiling young girl and a small, white dog with a blue bow on one ear.

At just 10 years old, Annalexa Moore is learning how to be a responsible pet owner, thanks to the 4-H Dog Club in Lauderdale County.

A Facebook post from MSU Extension advertising a podcast.

Sharing links to popular social media posts and new feeds.

A large group photo of several young children and adults wearing kayaking gear and several kayaks of different colors in the grass in front of them.

Leaders at Walmart in Louisville had already noticed Facebook posts announcing the new Winston County 4-H Kayak and Fishing Club when front-end coach Nikki Marshall realized they had too many life jackets and paddles in stock.

An older man squats next to a brown and white cow lying on the ground.

The benefits of prescribed burns on Jim Currie’s longleaf pine land in Hancock County were short-lived. He needed something extra to keep the understory vegetation from growing back so quickly.

A man standing in a vineyard and wearing a cowboy hat speaking to a group of people.

The Vineyard Pruning Workshop, funded by the Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium, taught the basics of vine anatomy and pruning techniques for muscadines and bunch grapes. In-field demonstrations showed participants correct pruning techniques in the vineyard. 

A smiling young woman wearing a shirt that reads “Beyond the Arch” stands next to several balloons and jars of party supplies.

Deciding to participate in the StartUp Mississippi program led Simpson County native Amber Milloy to success with her own business, Beyond the Arch.

A man wearing a suit sits at a round table with a small mug and a bag that says “Teach Plus.”

Oktibbeha County native Sanford Johnson has a deep love for his home state that fuels his passion to make Mississippi better. 

A man stands in a wooden shed holding parts to a soil sensor system.

Brian Andrus irrigated exactly zero times on his Sunflower County farm in 2021. He didn’t even turn on his well.

 

Five young adults and two women wearing black aprons and face masks smile for a group photo in a kitchen.

At Winona Career and Technical Center in Montgomery County, students studying culinary arts participated in the Eating Smart, Being Active program, delivered by the Mississippi State University Extension Service in the spring 2022 semester. 

A smiling young man stands in a room with a hand on a small table.

Deciding to get involved in 4-H was one of the best decisions Samuel Brown says he ever made.

“Without 4-H, I probably wouldn’t be in this chair right now,” Brown, 18, answers during his interview. “I wouldn’t be talking to you right now.”

A woman crouches, holding a plaque, with a girl on her left and a boy and steer on her right.

The 2022 Sale of Champions generated a preliminary total of $448,500, approximately $40,000 more than last year and the highest ever. 

Two older women wearing blue MHV t-shirts sitting at a table overspread with papers.

Lillian Clark Edney and Bonita Davenport Reed have been teammates since they were teachers in the Natchez-Adams School District.

A smiling woman in a blue shirt stands in front of a wall mural.

Vaunita Martin cares so much about the rural county where she attended Itawamba Community College that she’s made a career out of making it an even better place.

A young man, wearing glasses and a red shirt, standing outside and looking over the horizon.

When Carey Williams decides he’s going to do something, he relies on patience, work ethic, and tenacity to find a way to get it done.

A Facebook post showing the top garden myths and truths.

Sharing links to popular social media posts and new feeds.

Five people, including two teens in green 4-H blazers, smile for a group photo.

As Mississippi 4-H prepares to launch its HomeGrown Scholarship campaign to generate endowed scholarships for 4-H’ers from every county in the state, 33 4-H’ers on the Mississippi 4-H Leadership Team, representing 19 counties, visited the Capitol in Jackson for 4-H Legislative Day 2022. 

A teenage boy wearing a Shooting Sports National Championships shirt stands between his mother and father as they all smile.

Pearl River County 4-H’er excels at 4-H National Shooting Sports competition

If Dad considers himself a “gun person,” but Mom sees herself as “gun-shy,” what should their son do if he’s dreaming of a career in the military?

 

A woman smiling with two smiling children.

At least half the childcare providers in Pike County, from Summit to the state line, are participating in free trainings scheduled and delivered by Don Smith, the Mississippi State University Extension Service agent in Pike County.

 

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Extension Matters Issues

About Extension Matters Magazine

Extension Matters magazine is the premier publication of the Mississippi State University Extension Service, telling our clients’ own stories of success through Extension education.

“We are excited to have our clients tell their stories, and we are thankful for the opportunity to interact with Mississippians through our local offices in all 82 counties across the state,” says Dr. Gary B. Jackson, director of Extension.

Extension Matters profiles people just like you, men and women who want to expand their knowledge base and learn about the latest innovations. Families, farmers, business owners, and government leaders are benefitting from the educational opportunities Extension agents and specialists are bringing to people and communities just like yours. Extension Matters shares our clients’ successes to show how you, too, can succeed through Extension.