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 Alaska, with a population of about 116,000 with a diverse economy. It is considered Alaska’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 16
Matanuska Experiment Farm & Extension Center Kerttula Hall 206
Thursday, April 16, 2026, 12 – 1pm
Brandi Jo Nyberg will discuss methods, systems and tools used for biointensive, diversified vegetable production in a lunchtime presentation.
Biointensive farming involves maximizing small acreage to produce large amounts of food, with care for the soil at its core. Methods discussed will include bed sizing and spacing, essential tools, interplanting, and soil/plant health.
Brandi Jo Nyberg is the owner of Sauntering Roots Farm, a diversified vegetable operation that grows more than 30 varieties with less than an acre in production.
This class will be held in person at the UAF Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center, 1509 S. Georgeson Drive, Palmer, as well as via Zoom.&/ces/districts/matsu/160;&/ces/districts/matsu/160;
Register using the or visit .
For more information, contact the Matanuska Experiment Farm front desk at 907-745-3360.
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: Public events calendar - Fairbanks, Cooperative 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
Could this event have 200 or more attendees? There are campus considerations for large events.: FALSE
Apr 18
Contact organizer
Saturday, April 18, 2026, 9am – 4pm
Learn how small-scale farming can strengthen Alaska&/ces/districts/matsu/8217;s food system and gain the skills to start growing in this free event.
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., presentations and seminars will be held in two locations at the Alaska State Fairgrounds: the event building on the Purple Trail (north end) and at Rebarchek Farm at E. Rebarchek Ave. (south end of fairgrounds.) Directions will be available at the event building check-in.
From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., networking and table discussions are scheduled, with refreshments and door prizes.&/ces/districts/matsu/160;
Jodie Anderson, director of the UAF Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension, will lead a plenary session on food security efforts in Alaska.
Presentations include seed starting, food preservation and canning, sourdough, access to land, meat rabbits, poultry, small business support, food as medicine and more. Presentations are designed for adults. Children are welcome but must remain with a supervising adult.&/ces/districts/matsu/160;
For more information, contact the front desk at the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center, 907-745-3360.
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/39;s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Categories: Public events calendar - Fairbanks, Cooperative 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
Could this event have 200 or more attendees? There are campus considerations for large events.: TRUE
Apr 21
UAF online/virtual event
Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 9am – 5pm
This three-day course is for Alaskans preparing for the certified pesticide exam with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. The training will be offered over Zoom and includes all necessary study materials for the categories of your choice. Category descriptions can be found on the DEC Pesticide Control Program website: &/ces/districts/matsu/160;
Two sessions are scheduled in 2026: Jan. 27-29; April 21-23. For information on course content, contact Phil Kaspari, pnkaspari@alaska.edu or 907-895-4215. Register at .&/ces/districts/matsu/160;
To pick up training materials at a local Cooperative Extension office: $75. To have training materials mailed to you: $100.&/ces/districts/matsu/160;
REGISTRATION CLOSES 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20 for the January class; 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 14 for the April class. The Zoom link will be emailed to registrants prior to the training date.
Participants are encouraged to become familiar with the materials and math needed prior to the training. Visit &/ces/districts/matsu/160;for more information and PSEP math links. Post-training exams need to be scheduled separately with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation office.
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.&/ces/districts/matsu/160;
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, 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
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 !