Winston County Extension Office

08/26/2026

Hey Winston County High Schoolers, get those applications turned in!!! This is a phenomenal opportunity for you to grow your skills

DEADLINE to submit an application is 5:00 p.m, Monday, August 31. Don't wait......

08/20/2026

The deadline to register is fast approaching! Let us know if you are interested in participating. We have a few practices scheduled. Please contact the office about practice times. (662)773-3091.

Excited for this! Go ahead and get signed up to compete in the Slingshot State Championships. Link to register: https://reg.extension.msstate.edu/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0081-0004-649f1d5e8c0b403d9a3dc09c2dfb2192

08/20/2026

08/19/2026

Ready to learn new skills and connect with fellow homesteaders? Join us at the Central Mississippi Homesteading Conference! From beekeeping and gardening to food preservation and livestock care, our expert-led workshops and live demonstrations have something for everyone.

Food trucks and vendors will also be there. We hope you will make plans to attend!

Dates and Time:
Friday, Nov. 6
1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 7
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Cost: $20/person for both days.

Location:
Central MS Research & Extension Center
1320 Seven Springs Rd.
Raymond, MS 39154

Vendors are welcome. Call 601-857-2284 for more info.

Register here: https://ow.ly/sKLT50ZBFQK

08/17/2026

We sure are proud that we have Mrs Sophia taking care of us here in Winston County! Have you tried that broccoli salad?! 😋

💚 HappyHealthy Staff Spotlight: Sophia Humes

Meet Sophia Humes, our Nutrition Educator serving Winston County! Sophia serves the Louisville, Noxapater, and Nanih Waiya communities and will celebrate two years with Extension this August. She especially loves working with students and teachers at Louisville Elementary School and appreciates the opportunity to make learning about health fun and engaging

Sophia's journey into nutrition education began with prayer and a desire to further her education in health promotion. After a friend shared an Extension job posting, Sophia applied and found herself in a role she describes as a blessing. As an MSU graduate, she says working for Extension feels especially meaningful.

Before joining Extension, Sophia worked in mental health and social work. Although she enjoyed helping others, she always wanted to learn more about nutrition and wellness. Today, she brings that same passion for helping people to every class she teaches.

One of Sophia's favorite lessons focuses on the digestive system. She enjoys watching students become fascinated as they learn how food moves through the body. One memorable moment involved a young student who told her he hadn't eaten breakfast and looked forward to her school lessons because he enjoyed the fruit tastings and thought the classes were fun. Experiences like that remind her how important nutrition education can be.

Sophia says the greatest reward is hearing participants share that they enjoyed a class, had fun learning, or tried a recipe at home. She also loves seeing students apply what they've learned, such as a child who later shared information about the digestive system with classmates.

When she needs a quick meal, Sophia enjoys a turkey sandwich on wheat bread with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and mustard. She believes cantaloupe is one of the most underrated fruits because it is naturally sweet, packed with vitamins and antioxidants, and supports hydration and heart health. One kitchen tip she swears by is placing a damp towel under a cutting board to keep it from slipping while preparing food.

Sophia believes healthy living is important because it can help prevent many health issues. One habit that supports her own wellness is drinking plenty of water. Outside of work, she enjoys evening walks while listening to 90s R&B and Motown music, and she loves making healthy fruit snacks. Her favorite HappyHealthy recipe is Broccoli Salad.

Her goal is simple but powerful: to help people make healthier choices, improve their well-being, and support her community in living healthier, happier lives. 💚

Thank you, Sophia, for helping families and students build healthier futures across Winston County! 🌟

08/14/2026



08/12/2026

Master Gardener registration is officially OPEN!!! If you have any questions about registration, contact your county's MSU Extension office! Find yours here: https://extension.msstate.edu/county-offices

Wait, what's a Master Gardener??? It's a great way to learn more about plants, make friends with similar interests and volunteer in the community!!

Take the leap and sign up: https://extension.msstate.edu/community/leadership/master-gardener

08/11/2026

Thank you to The Citizens Bank of Philadelphia for an enlightening program on Guarding our Finances from Fraud. We are better aware of red flags for possible scams and have been challenged to monitor our accounts daily if possible but at least weekly. I will be buying more gel pens now too thanks to Shon’s tip about writing checks! Reach out to Lynn Graham at The Citizens Bank if you would like to have this program presented to your group.

08/11/2026

Big changes and exciting improvements are coming as we modernize our nomination and entry process of livestock for the Mississippi State Fair, District, and Dixie National Junior Round-Up!

Beginning this show season, in addition to submitting paper nomination forms to Extension agents/FFA teachers, exhibitors must nominate all livestock online through Showman at https://showman.app/shows #/organizations/mississippi-state-extension/. You can also use the QR code on the graphic to access the nomination page.

The new nomination/entry process has three simple steps:
1️⃣ Submit paper nomination forms to your Extension agent or FFA advisor by September 1.
2️⃣ Exhibitors must nominate all animals online through Showman by September 4.
3️⃣ Exhibitors must enter their nominated animals for the Mississippi State Fair through Showman between September 7–18.

Most people know Showman as the place to find and enter livestock shows—but it offers so much more! Showman connects exhibitors with camps, clinics, and other educational opportunities that provide the tools they need to learn, prepare, and succeed before they ever enter the show ring.

Using Showman as the official entry portal for the Mississippi Youth Livestock Program will give families a clear and reliable place to find event information, register, and keep track of future opportunities for exhibitors.

The best exhibitors don’t just show up ready—they prepare on purpose. More and more, that preparation begins on Showman! We are excited to enter this new era of Mississippi livestock shows and create a simpler, more organized experience for our exhibitors, families, Extension agents, and FFA advisors!

08/11/2026

Thank you to Dr. DelPrince for teaching us some lovely ways to utilize gladiolus in floral design tonight. He used vibrant flowers provided by Melissa Foster at Fran's Florist to show us how this bloom could be used in many different settings. It was an informative as well as entertaining class.