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 ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥, with a population of about 116,000 with a diverse economy. It is considered ÀÖ»¢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
Sep 19
Matanuska Experiment Farm & Extension Center Kerttula Hall 206
Saturday, September 19, 2026, 9am – 4pm
In this intensive course, you will learn how to identify some of the common species of mushrooms in Southcentral ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥. We will start with an overview of biology, ecology, and uses, and then take a walk and learn how to identify some species we find.
Mycologist Christin Swearingen will give an introduction to mushroom field guides and dichotomous keys, making collections, and learning which features to hone into when identifying mushrooms. We will learn about both edible and inedible mushrooms.
We will meet at the UAF Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center. In the afternoon, we will be collecting mushrooms from a different location, so prepare to carpool or drive yourself to an alternate location.
What to bring:
- We will break for a short time for lunch, so a sack lunch is recommended.
- A collecting basket or tackle box that can keep your mushrooms separate.
- Optional: pocket knife, hand lens, water bottle, and notebook.
- Snacks and water bottle, as needed
This class will be mostly held outside, please dress accordingly.
Categories: Public events calendar - Fairbanks, Cooperative Extension calendar, Mat-Su/Copper River CES calendar
Sep 24
Contact organizer
Thursday, September 24, 2026, 2 – 4pm
We share information and free produce on a first-come, first-served basis. Check the for the latest information.&/ces/districts/matsu/160;
Our Free Farm Stands are all about nourishing our neighbors and building community, one vegetable at a time.&/ces/districts/matsu/160;The success of the Free Farm Stands depends on community members like you. Whether you share fresh produce, make a financial contribution, or volunteer your time, your support helps ensure that everyone has access to healthy, local food. Here are a few ways you can get involved:
- Share Your Harvest: Bring your excess, clean garden vegetables and fruit to a Free Farm Stand on the same day you harvest them.
- Volunteer Your Time: Join a dedicated team of volunteers and help stock, maintain, and manage a Farm Stand while connecting with others who care about strengthening our community.&/ces/districts/matsu/160;To volunteer, call or text Theresa 907-947-8217.
- Make a Donation: Your financial support helps sustain and expand the Free Farm Stands, ensuring fresh food remains available to those who need it most.&/ces/districts/matsu/160;
Categories: Public events calendar - Fairbanks, Cooperative Extension calendar, Anchorage CES calendar, Mat-Su/Copper River CES calendar
Oct 07
Contact organizer
Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 12 – 1pm
Good soil is essential to growing food and supporting human and animal life. Join us for this free webinar if you want to know more about soil properties and soil health.
Victoria Monsaint-Queeney will talk about how soil forms and the impact of physical, chemical and biological properties on soil health. She will also provide a brief overview of nitrogen cycling in soil.
When: Oct. 7t&/ces/districts/matsu/160; noon - 1&/ces/districts/matsu/160; p.m.
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
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 ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ () is an equal opportunity/equal access employer and educational institution. The university is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination () against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.
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
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 !