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Extension Matters

Volume 12 Number 1

  • A person standing in an indoor shooting range and holding a firearm.

    Choosing to Lead

    Maila Rogers experienced firsthand the impact Mississippi 4-H can have on a young person’s life. As a former Tallahatchie County 4-H’er, she overcame bullying at school, made real friends in 4-H, and found community and support as she learned by doing in 4-H. 

  • More Active in Mississippi

    Mississippi, it’s time to get moving. Let’s increase our physical movement, improve our eating habits, and make ourselves healthier and happier!

  • A sign on bricks that lists “Carthage Coliseum,” and “America 250 Mississippi” and shows the City of Carthage seal with a magnolia bloom in the center.

    Revitalization and Renovation

    When the Leake County Board of Supervisors decided to rejuvenate downtown Carthage, they made positive changes in a short time.

  • Art supplies around a photo of a hand picking up a piece of litter.

    What’s New in Extension

    A new Extension art contest allows teens to develop art and messages to encourage residents and visitors to reduce, clean up, and prevent litter.

  • Two young people wearing chef's hats, with one holding a knife and one holding a whisk, standing back to back and smiling.

    Cooking Up Gold

    Two Pontotoc County 4-H’ers win first place in a celebrated regional cook-off.

  • A large group of people seated around a table in a conference room.

    Listening to Producers

    More than 400 Mississippi farmers participated in the 2026 Producer Advisory Council meetings held at three of the state’s Research and Extension Centers.

  • Three people standing amid tall grass and smiling.

    Phenology Fun

    A trail along the Mississippi Gulf Coast is engaging members of the public in outdoor learning and community science, allowing citizen scientists to record their careful observations of wildlife and plant life in a way that contributes meaningful data to scientific research.

  • Close up of a red-tailed hawk with a child’s wide eyes in the background.

    Celebrating Traditions

    Hundreds gathered in early February to celebrate tradition—skills like metal forging, knife making, weaving, spinning, and quilting, as well as heritage livestock and raptor birds—at the 2026 Forge Day and Heritage Festival.

  • Three young people in a showring presenting market goats.

    Rounding Up the Best

    With 1,152 young people in 4-H and FFA showing a total of 1,759 animals at the 2026 Dixie National Junior Round-Up, this year’s livestock competition was another resounding success.

  • A smiling person standing next to a bulldozer at a logging site.

    Logging with Integrity

    To be a good logger, you’ve got to love the land.

  • One person hands another person a package of dog bones.

    Beyond Ready

    Holmes County 4‑H’er Jordan Brooks has spent nearly his entire life in the show ring, the barn, and the leadership spaces that make up Mississippi 4‑H.

  • A large room full of people seated at tables.

    Row Crop Review

    The 2025 Row Crop Short Course, hosted by the Mississippi State University Extension Service and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, was held at The Mill in Starkville in early December.

  • Two people speaking in front of an agricultural display.

    Director’s Message

    It’s a new year, and with spring planting right around the corner, Extension boots are already on the ground. As we look back, we’re grateful for everything Extension accomplished in 2025, and we’re going to continue to make even more impacts in 2026.

Mississippi State University Extension Service 130 Bost Drive Mississippi State MS 39762