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
Sep 10
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Thursday, September 10, 2026, 10:30 – 11:30am
Diverse flowers and wildflowers create better habitat for pollinators which provides benefits local flora and fauna. We will discuss pollinators and wildflowers that are more attractive to diverse insects than bird vetch. Then we will discuss strategies for controlling bird vetch and rampion bellflower when the goal is to maintain a diverse wildflower garden.
Gino Graziano is a faculty member at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Institute of Agriculture Natural Resources and Extension who does research and outreach on invasive species management, forest health and agricultural pest and weed management. His research team has done some research on bird vetch removal, interactions with pollinators and pesticide impacts on goals to plant wildflowers attractive to pollinators.
Where: Central Lutheran Church at 1420 Cordova St in Anchorage and Zoom - contact akwildflowers@gmail.com to register.
More information available at: https://wildflowergardenclub.org/index.html
Categories: Public events calendar - Fairbanks, Cooperative Extension calendar, Anchorage CES calendar, Mat-Su/Copper River CES calendar
Sep 12
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Saturday, September 12, 2026, 1 – 4pm
Discover what 4-H has to offer! Join us for a fun, hands-on afternoon designed for the whole family. Kids can explore interactive STEM challenges, local agricultural displays, and natural resource projects while earning stamps on a special event "passport."
Whether you are a family looking to join a club, a youth eager to try something new, or an adult interested in volunteering, this is the perfect opportunity to meet local club leaders, see current youth projects, and ask questions. Come learn by doing! Admission is free, and drop-ins are welcome anytime, 1-4 p.m.
Location: UAF Cooperative Extension Office, 219 E International Airport Road, Suite 100, Anchorage
For more information, contact Larissa Wright-Elson, 907-786 6345 or lawrightelson@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's National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Categories: Public events calendar - Fairbanks, Statewide 4-H calendar, Cooperative Extension calendar, Anchorage CES calendar, Mat-Su/Copper River CES calendar
Sep 17
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Wednesday, September 16, 2026, 7 – 9pm
If you are curious about how to find and identify mushrooms in the Anchorage area, join us for a walk with mycologist Christin Swearingen. We will collect, identify, and learn about mushrooms. Bring a basket if you have one and any mushrooms from your backyard you want to know more about.
Space is limited and registration is required. A $5 cancellation fee applies to all cancellations; no refunds given to cancellations requested within 2 business day of the workshop. We will be walking on forest trails and uneven ground for approximately 30 minutes. The class takes place rain or shine; please prepare accordingly.
In partnership between BLM Campbell Creek Science Center and UAF Cooperative Extension Service.
When: Sept. 16, 7- 9 p.m.
Where: BLM Campbell Creek Science Center, 5600 Science Center Dr, Anchorage
Cost: $30
Registration: TBD
Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made five business days in advance to uaf-ianre@alaska.edu or 907-474-5211. 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 uaf-ianre@alaska.edu.
The University of Alaska (http://www.alaska.edu/alaska) is an equal opportunity/equal access employer and educational institution. The university is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination (http://www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination) against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.
This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Categories: Public events calendar - Fairbanks, Cooperative Extension calendar, Anchorage CES calendar, Mat-Su/Copper River CES calendar
Events
Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 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 Google Maps!