Maritime Extension Project

In Southeast Alaska, the communities are spread over hundreds of miles of islands and inlets, with no roads connecting them. On July 4, Sarah Lewis launched (literally) her first Maritime Extension Project at the helm of her familiy's 36-foot cruising trawler, the Juniebell. Read more

Women in Ag Conference a Huge Success

The Alaska Women in Ag ‘virtual’ Conference, March 20, 2021, brought hundreds of women together via Zoom for a day of connection, networking, information exchange and fun. It featured producers from across the state, which allowed the participants to get to know people from their communities as well as their industry. Read more

4-H At-Home Camps

Alaska 4-H was a recipient of a Rasmuson Foundation grant in 2021 to deliver camp programming. The intent was to deliver the AK Experience Camp statewide to provide youth with experiential learning opportunities and a sense of community. Read more

4-H and Invasive Slug Removal Challenge

Since 2011, Sitka Spruce Tips 4-H club has partnered with the Sitka Conservation Society, a local environmental nonprofit, to engage youth ages 5-18 in place-based, experiential learning unique to the Tongass National Forest. Read more

Interior 4-H Counters Pandemic Isolation

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and Alaska went into lockdown, kids were shut up in their houses and away from their friends. Read more

Citizen Science at Matanuska Experiment Farm

The closure of the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center due to the pandemic made continuation of its citizen science programming challenging as people could not gather to share their passion for science. Read more

Socially Distanced Community Potato Harvest

The Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center hosts an annual potato harvest for community members. The potato harvest is an opportunity for the farm to provide food for familes, while showing them where their food comes from. Read more

Botanical garden partners with Nanook Grown

The Georgeson Botanical Garden collaborated with the UAF Office of Sustainability to accommodate twice the number of students who usually participate in the Nanook Grown Student Gardener Training Program. The program teaches students through experiential learning how to grow their own food. Read more

Vegetable Variety Trials

Alaska’s climate is changing and growing seasons have lengthened in many areas of Alaska. It may be possible to grow different vegetable varieties than have grown here previously. Plant breeders also develop new varieties and update older varieties. Continued trials in different locations are important to determine what will grow best where, so the information can be shared with gardeners and farmers, strengthening Alaska's food security. Read more

Grain Varieties and Cultivation Methods

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many Alaskans faced food security issues stemming from the state's dependence on out-of-state food suppliers. Shipments from Outside were limited and in-state suppliers could not meet public demand for agronomic crops. Read more

Delivering Food Donations and Nutrition Information in a Pandemic

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that one in seven Alaskans struggles with hunger and good security issues. During the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment rates increased, putting greater strain on food resources throughout the state, including the MatSu area. Read more

MAPTS delivers on required Mine Safety and Health Administration training

Due to COVID travel restrictions, MAPTS transitioned the health and safety training to distance delivery in 2020. This allows it to reach even more students, in state and out of state. Read more

Pandemic Inspires Creative Approaches to Youth Programming

Kenai Peninsula District 4-H rolled out a six-week 4-H On series days after the pandemic shutdown. The series engaged 15-30 youth and 4-H leaders in weekly programming. Read more

Matanuska Experiment Farm Outreach Work

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center closed its doors to the public but its education and outreach activities continue by distance delivery. Read more

Matanuska Experiment Farm Variety Trials

The Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center participates in vegetable variety trials to help determine which varieties flourish in the Mat-Su area. Read more

Working Through the Pandemic

As a result of the pandemic, many 4-H families in Bethel have experienced limited access to child care, food resources and youth activities. Working with the Food Bank of Alaska, the Bethel 4-H Program continued its At-Risk Snack program, which provides nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children. Read more

Radon Testing and Mitigation Assistance

Every year approximately 20,000 Americans die from lung cancer as a result of breathing in radioactive radon gas at their homes, schools and workplaces. Extension has provided educational outreach on radon for more than 30 years. Read more

Master Gardener Class Comes To Sitka

The agriculture and horticulture Extension agent based in Sitka retired in 2013 and the office was reorganized as an outreach center without an agent. Research-based gardening education in the community was piecemeal and infrequent, despite high interest in the topic. Read more

Getting Creative During the Pandemic

The Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center closed its doors to the public in March due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Extension specializes in hands-on public outreach, so this created a significant barrier. Read more

MAPTS Mine Training for Rural Residents

Alaska's rural regions are mineral-rich and home to several production mines that employ thousands of people in well-paying jobs. Too often, the people living in or near these mines have not benefited from their stable and long-term employment. Read more