The Mat-Su Copper River Cooperative Extension Service district office is located in Palmer, 42 miles northeast of Anchorage. The district is the size of West Virginia, covering a region stretching from Valdez in the south to Cantwell to the north.
It is the fastest-growing region in »¨½·Ö±²¥, with a population of about 116,000 with a diverse economy. It is considered »¨½·Ö±²¥â€™s agricultural heartland and world-famous for the giant vegetables grown there, as well as potatoes, oats, hay, greenhouse produce and sod. The offices are located on the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center, a working research farm.
The district offers outreach programs in agriculture and horticulture; health, home and family development; integrated pest management; nutrition; and 4-H and youth development.
Upcoming events
Events
Apr 07
UAF online/virtual event, Contact organizer
Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 10:30 – 11:30am
Join the Valley Garden Club and Cooperative Extension Service to learn more about the pollinators in your backyard. Alex Wenninger, UAF CES integrated pest management technician, will cover the nesting habits of native bees and how to recognize common bees and other pollinators in »¨½·Ö±²¥. She will also cover ways to attract pollinators and how to be a good pollinator steward in your own garden by planting for pollinators and managing invasive plants.
Location: Zoom Register via the or visit .
Free
For more information, contact Molly Johansson, 907-786-6313 or mjohansson@alaska.edu
Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made five business days in advance to Alda Norris at amnorris2@alaska.edu or 907-474-7120. Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to individuals with limited English proficiency upon request to amnorris2@alaska.edu.
This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture&/ces/districts/matsu/8217;s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Categories: Public events calendar - Fairbanks, Cooperative Extension calendar, Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension calendar, Anchorage CES calendar, Bethel CES calendar, Bristol Bay/Dillingham CES calendar, Delta Junction CES calendar, Southeast CES calendar, Kenai/Soldotna CES calendar, Kodiak CES calendar, Mat-Su/Copper River CES calendar, Northwest/Nome CES calendar, Sitka CES calendar, Fairbanks/Tanana CES calendar, Tribes CES calendar
Could this event have 200 or more attendees? There are campus considerations for large events.: FALSE
Apr 08
Contact organizer
Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 5:30 – 7:30pm
Learn to grow your own vegetables from seed. Taught by the »¨½·Ö±²¥ Cooperative Extension Service, this hands-on class will cover how to plan, plant and care for your budding crop to give it the best start for a successful harvest. Seeds, soil and pots will be provided to help you start growing your confidence in gardening. Limited spots, registration required.
Where: Seed Lab, 111 W. 6th Ave, Anchorage.
Register using the or visit .
Cost: $5 - material cost
For more information, contact Molly Johansson at 907-786-6313 or mjohansson@alaska.edu
Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made five business days in advance to Alda Norris at amnorris2@alaska.edu.
Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to individuals with limited English proficiency upon request toamnorris2@alaska.edu. This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture&/ces/districts/matsu/8217;s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Categories: Public events calendar - Fairbanks, Cooperative Extension calendar, Anchorage CES calendar, Mat-Su/Copper River CES calendar
Could this event have 200 or more attendees? There are campus considerations for large events.: FALSE
Apr 11
Contact organizer
Saturday, April 11, 2026, 10am – 2pm
Does the thought of speaking in front of others make you sweat? 4-H presentations to the rescue! Practicing and participating in presentation opportunities in 4-H will help youth:
- Learn to organize and present information
- Gain self-confidence and public speaking skills
- Become more knowledgeable and teach others
- Respond to questions
- Compete for awards and recognition.
Presentation contests are open to all enrolled Mat-Su/Copper River 4-H members. Cloverbud presentations are awarded participation ribbons only, not a placing.
Demonstrations, illustrated talks and speeches will be judged in separate age categories:
- Cloverbuds: ages 5&/ces/districts/matsu/8211;7
- Junior: ages 8&/ces/districts/matsu/8211;11
- Intermediate: ages 12&/ces/districts/matsu/8211;14
- Senior: ages 15&/ces/districts/matsu/8211;18
- *Team presentations are judged all ages together.
- There are resources on the state Public Presentation Resources website.
The grand and reserve champion of each age division in each category are eligible to participate in State Presentation Contest in June.
Location: Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center, 1509 S. Georgeson Drive, Palmer.
Contact Samantha Blumenkonig at sjrussell5@alaska.edu for more information. Register in Z-suite or by contacting Samantha.&/ces/districts/matsu/160;
*Some presentation slots may be available on Friday, April 10. Let Samantha know if that&/ces/districts/matsu/39;s preferred.
Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made five business days in advance to Alda Norris at&/ces/districts/matsu/160;amnorris2@alaska.edu&/ces/districts/matsu/160;or 907-474-7120. Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to individuals with limited English proficiency upon request to&/ces/districts/matsu/160;amnorris2@alaska.edu.
This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture&/ces/districts/matsu/39;s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Categories: Statewide 4-H calendar, Mat-Su/Copper River 4-H calendar, Mat-Su/Copper River CES calendar
Could this event have 200 or more attendees? There are campus considerations for large events.: FALSE
Events
Monday -10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Closed for lunch 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Phone: 907-745-3360
Fax: 907-745-6268
Email: matsu.ces@alaska.edu
We are located at 1509 S. Georgeson Dr. in Palmer at the Matanuska Experiment Farm. Find us with !