DeSoto County 4-H members brought home plenty to celebrate from the 2026 Mississippi State Fair in Jackson, showing livestock, competing in cooking and speaking contests, and even landing a spot on statewide television. The highlights come from the DeSoto County Extension office’s November 2026 newsletter, published by the Mississippi State University Extension Service, which also points families to a 4-H awards ceremony on Nov. 17 and several free classes in the weeks ahead.
The Extension office, based at 1170 Starlanding Road West in Nesbit, says its 4-H program reached more than 9,200 young people across DeSoto County over the past year.
DeSoto County 4-H Livestock Exhibitors at the Fair
The newsletter congratulated a long list of local 4-H livestock exhibitors who showed animals at the State Fair:
Beef cattle: Weston Ricker, Easton Ricker, Cheyenne Ricker, Savana Stewart and Morgan Miller
Rabbits: Jasidy, Addilyn and Zandrew Gomes; Lillian, Hazel and Evie Bemis; Charlotte and Dominick Kouba; Olivia Wofford and Cora Stokes
Poultry: Charlotte Kouba and Julie Chamberlin
Dairy goats: Anthony and Nathan Bula; Michael, Sidney and Jayden Simpson; Jasidy, Addilyn and Zandrew Gomes; and Violet Cox
Contests, Exhibits and a TV Appearance
DeSoto County was also represented in several contests during 4-H Day at the State Fair. Dusti, Willow and Robert Cox-Osborne competed in Share the Fun and the Chopped Challenge, Hank Hawkins entered public speaking, Willow Cox-Osborne took part in the Fashion Revue, and Janika and Fenix Schaafsma competed in the omelet cook-off.
Before the fair, the Schaafsma siblings got an extra moment in the spotlight. According to the Extension office, they appeared on WLBT in Jackson alongside Mississippi Egg Marketing Board President Ryn Laster to promote the State Fair omelet competition, demonstrating omelet preparation on air. The office said the segment gave the pair a chance to build confidence and public speaking skills while representing both DeSoto County 4-H and Mississippi 4-H, calling it an example of the program’s “Learning by Doing” motto.
Several local members also had handmade or homegrown items selected for display at 4-H Day, including Charlotte and Dominick Kouba, David and Leah Angel, Dusti and Willow Cox-Osborne, Fenix, Janika and Maisie Schaafsma, Hank, Hazel and Clara Hawkins, Isabella Hancock, Addilyn Gomes and Maggie Whitten.
4-H Awards Ceremony and Upcoming Classes
The office will recognize the year’s achievements at the DeSoto County 4-H Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 17. Nominations for 4-Her of the Year, Friend of 4-H, Club of the Year and Volunteer of the Year closed in October.
Extension agents are also teaching free programs at First Regional Library branches in the county:
Dining with Diabetes (four-part series with Lara Angel): Hernando Public Library at 10 a.m. on Dec. 1, Jan. 5, Feb. 2 and March 2
Wreath Making for Adults with Lara Angel: Olive Branch Library, Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 10 a.m. Call 662-895-5900 to sign up.
Families interested in joining 4-H have several clubs to choose from, including the Lucky Leaders community club (third Friday, 5:30 p.m., Emory Independent Methodist Church), the 4-H Horse Club (third Monday, 4:30 p.m.), Jr. Master Gardeners (fourth Tuesday, 4:30 p.m.) and the Kits and Kids rabbit and goat club (first Monday, 4:30 p.m.), all meeting at the DeSoto County Agri-Education Center. A 4-H Shooting Sports program kicks off Jan. 12, 2027. The homeschool sewing club is currently full.
Holiday Office Hours
The DeSoto County Extension office will close for Thanksgiving starting at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 25, through Friday, Nov. 27. The newsletter also includes tips on fall prevention exercises for older adults and a reminder to watch for the invasive spotted lanternfly, which has not yet been found in Mississippi. Anyone who spots a suspected lanternfly or its mud-like egg masses is asked to take a photo and contact the Extension office.
