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
Aug 20
Contact organizer
Thursday, August 20, 2026, 11:30am – 1:30pm
The Anchorage Outreach Center will be at the Anchorage Museum's Lunch on the Lawn every Thursday in August. We will be testing canner gauges for free. You only have to bring the gauge or the lid with the gauge (if you have an All-American pressure canner, we ask that you remove the gauge from the lid to ensure the most accurate reading).
The Anchorage Museum brings you live music and food trucks every Tuesday and Thursday. Lunch on the Lawn, is their weekly live music series, features local and national acts performing live on the museum lawn.
Other activities include educational programming, community conversations and family-friendly games. Weekly activities vary. Free to attend.
Note: music and activities will move indoors if it rains, where museum admission applies.
Music Schedule
8/04 Joe Schumacher
8/06 Ginger & Ale
8/11 Fiona Rose
8/13 Santoro
8/18 Uncle Jim
8/20 Big Tim & Tall Order
8/25 TBD
8/27 TBD
Funded by EasyPark’s Park It Forward: Downtown Grant Program.
Categories: Public events calendar - Fairbanks, Cooperative Extension calendar, Anchorage CES calendar, Mat-Su/Copper River CES calendar
Aug 22
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Friday, August 21, 2026, 6 – 10pm
4-Her's from across the state who have qualified at their district show will show their skills and show with other 4-Hers from around the state at the state show to be held in Palmer during the Alaska Fair.
Categories: Public events calendar - Fairbanks, Statewide 4-H calendar, Cooperative Extension calendar, Anchorage 4-H calendar, Mat-Su/Copper River 4-H calendar, Anchorage CES calendar, Mat-Su/Copper River CES calendar
Aug 22
Contact organizer
Saturday, August 22, 2026, 9am – 6pm
4-Her's from across the state who have qualified at their district show will show their skills and show with other 4-Hers from around the state at the state show to be held in Palmer during the Alaska Fair.
Categories: Public events calendar - Fairbanks, Statewide 4-H calendar, Cooperative Extension calendar, Anchorage 4-H calendar, Mat-Su/Copper River 4-H 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!