DeSoto County Extension Newsletter

Hello! We are excited to announce our new Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development, Mary Chandler Holt! She started on April 1, 2026. She is excited to help us take care of what matters in DeSoto County by helping youth and adults reach their fullest potential and make the best better! She is originally from Byhalia, MS and comes to us from industry. She was working for Stratas Food in Memphis, TN before coming to Extension. She is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a B.S. Agribusiness. She brings a wealth of 4-H experience under her belt from participating in 4-H in-school club(s) at Rossville Christian Academy and participating in Mississippi 4-H Horse Bowl, Horse Judging and Horse Speed Events. We are so excited to have her join our DeSoto County Extension Office team! Help us welcome her to DeSoto County whenever you see her! You can reach her at mck329@msstate.edu or 662-469-8480. 

This past month we graduated nine Master Gardener interns who took the Mississippi Master Gardener training course March–April. They completed over 40 hours of education and now are charged with getting 40 hours of volunteer service now before they are certified Master Gardeners. We are excited to have them join our amazing group of volunteers. Master Gardener volunteers are an extending educational arm of the university for the public throughout DeSoto County, by providing horticultural information based on university research and recommendations. Our local Master Gardeners are hosting the state Master Gardener Conference, April 27–29, here at the DeSoto County Agri-Education Center. 

We are now in our busy season of SPRING and SUMMER! Join us for a program or event because we’d love to see you. This newsletter is packed with info on upcoming things you can join us at. We are here to answer your home gardening, home lawn, home canning and freezing, and everything in between. As always if you have any questions, requests, concerns, or inquires please contact DeSoto County Extension at 662-469-8480 or email desoto@ext.msstate.edu.

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