Mississippi State University Extension Service

The MS Horse Park and the Starkville Rotary Club were honored with the Justin Boots Best Footing Award for the exceptional ground during the 2024 Rotary Rodeo. It was selected by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association for having the best footing in 2024 out of 57 rodeos held in the Southeastern Circuit which includes Mississippi and eight other states - Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The Southeastern Circuit is the largest in the area and the second largest membership in the United States. The award was presented on December 5, 2024 during the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada. After her retirement in June, it was only fitting for Bricklee Miller to accept the award on behalf of the Horse Park and Starkville Rotary Club. Under her 20-year leadership, the Horse Park won this award seven times. Contestants vote on the recipient which makes this honor even more prestigious. Over the years, the Horse Park has become known for its safe and fast ground. “It was an honor to step on a national stage on behalf of the Horse Park and Starkville Rotary Club one last time to receive this award,” says Miller. “It speaks volumes that the facility and rodeo has won this so often, especially since it is voted on by contestants.” The Rotary Rodeo is the Starkville Rotary Club’s largest fundraiser each year and proceeds are used to support humanitarian, educational and other community activities. The Rotary Rodeo will be February 7-8, 2025 starting at 7 nightly. More information can be found at www.mshorsepark.com. The Mississippi Horse Park is a partnership of the City of Starkville, Oktibbeha County and Mississippi State University.

The final Termite University of 2024 has concluded. We had a couple dozen SPECTACULAR PMPs from 5 different states, as well as some AWESOME #Mississippi BPI Inspectors take the course. Looking forward to 2025! https://lnkd.in/eKXTZixj #MSUext #termites #entomology #pestmanagement #IPM

Dr. Drew Gholson, coordinator of the National Center for Alluvial Aquifer Research, has received the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Extension Education Award! This honor recognizes his outstanding contributions to research and education that advance water conservation and irrigation practices in Mississippi agriculture. Through training programs, cutting-edge research, and hands-on collaboration with farmers, Dr. Gholson helps producers optimize water usage while improving sustainability and profitability. His innovative work ensures the future of agriculture remains strong and resource-efficient.

Congrats to our very MSU Extension sweet potato specialist, Dr. Lorin Harvey! He has won the 2024 Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award from the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation! This honor recognizes individuals who excel in agricultural education, leadership, and advocacy without relying solely on farming for income. Lorin’s passion for Mississippi agriculture is evident in his research and his role as a voice for farmers through Farm Bureau’s grassroots programs. He has also been appointed to a national USDA advisory committee for specialty crops, amplifying his impact. We are proud to have him on our team!

#Faculty #Extension #PublicHealth #JobOpportunity I spent a decade working as as faculty member and State Health Specialist for Mississippi State University Extension Service and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in the Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University, which I greatly enjoyed. While I was steeped in agriculture, the Extension network gave me the opportunity to do real, #grassroots #PublicHealth work and have a real impact while also writing grants, implementing projects, publishing papers, mentoring students, and more. Folks outside of academia may not know that when a faculty member leaves their role, there's no guarantee the line will be continued. So I was deeply pleased to know that administration valued the work I was able to build with my team and is re-filling the role. Not only that, they are allowing the department to advertise an #openrank position, meaning anyone at the assistant, associate, or full professor level can apply and be hired in at the appropriate level. This is almost unheard of these days! All of that to say, please check out this opportunity, share with others, and reach out to Leah P., Daniel Peterson, or others at MSU associated with this search. This is a great opportunity to both be an academic and 'practice' public health. https://lnkd.in/gx-ZbWuZ

The MSU Office of Agricultural Communications is currently seeking a qualified candidate for the position of Business Manager! Interested individuals can apply here: https://ow.ly/8THH50UjmRV #MSUext

Extension was a key part of Bobbie Seal’s life—over the years in her native Neshoba County, she was a client, volunteer, and employee of the Mississippi State University Extension Service. After her death in 2023, Susan and Sid wanted a lasting way to recognize their mother and her impacts on the community. They created the Bobbie J. Seal Memorial 4-H Endowed Scholarship and the Bobbie J. Seal Memorial 4-H Annual Scholarship. We are proud to announce the first recipient is Spencer Rea. Both Susan and her brother, Sid Seal, were 4-H members and benefited from their mother’s leadership in the organization. “A lot of people think that 4-H is only about livestock, and it’s not,” Sid points out. “Our activities were centered around leadership skills in other areas. Those are the things our mom wanted us to learn. She wanted us to be able to talk to people, present ourselves professionally, and build relationships.” She believed those skills were important for all the young people she mentored through 4-H. “It was a way to honor her by doing something that was important to her,” Susan explains. “She loved young people and wanted to see them succeed. Through this scholarship, she is still able to help people, especially the people of Neshoba County.” Read more here: https://ow.ly/ct0P50Uf8Ro #MS4H #MSUext

The 2025 Mississippi Agricultural Outlook Conference will be held Jan. 14 at MSU! The main goal of this 8-hour conference is to provide agricultural economic outlook for anyone who is interested in production and economic updates. Register here: https://ow.ly/Ho9w50Ueafc

Registration is now open for our Excellence in Tourism Leadership Certificate Course! This program is a collaboration between MSU Extension and the Mississippi Tourism Association and is perfect for anyone involved in the tourism industry—even volunteers—who want to enhance their skills and make a bigger impact in their community. The program is primarily virtual, making it accessible no matter where you are, and covers essential topics like: ✅Leadership ✅Economic and Tourism Development ✅Promotion and Advocacy ✅Digital Media and Marketing We invite you to share this opportunity with tourism professionals, chamber of commerce members, Main Street Associations, event and festival organizers, and other community leaders in your area. Learn more here: https://ow.ly/WYHr50UccBI

Thank you to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast for recognizing our Harrison County Extension Office as the Dynamic Group of the Year!