THE MSU EXTENSION SERVICE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM WILL GIVE UNDERGRADUATE JUNIORS AND SENIORS -- FROM ALL PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN MISSISSIPPI AND 1862 AND 1890 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS IN ADJACENT STATES -- THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE EXTENSION-RELATED CAREERS IN AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES, COMMUNITY RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, OR 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, WHILE PARTICIPATING IN INTEGRATED RESEARCH AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT DIRECTLY BENEFIT EXTENSION OUTREACH TO LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS IN MISSISSIPPI. BETWEEN OCTOBER 1, 2016 AND MAY 31, 2019, TWO (2), 12-WEEK SUMMER APPRENTICESHIPS WILL HOST SIXTEEN (16) STUDENTS (8 PER SUMMER). STUDENTS WILL BE SELECTED AND PAIRED WITH A PRIMARY AND SECONDARY MENTOR TO OBTAIN HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROJECTS OR PROGRAMS. ONE OF FOUR (4) MSU REGIONAL EXTENSION COORDINATORS WILL SERVE AS THE PRIMARY MENTOR TO COORDINATE AND FACILITATE THE APPRENTICES' ACTIVITIES AND OVERALL EXPERIENCE. THE SECONDARY MENTOR WILL BE AN MSU EXTENSION FACULTY SPECIALIST WITH WHOM THE APPRENTICE WILL ASSIST IN CONDUCTING NEW OR ONGOING RESEARCH, FACILITATE EXTENSION ACTIVITIES AT THE COUNTY OR REGIONAL LEVEL, AND DEVELOP A RELATED PROCESS, PROGRAM, OR TRAINING TOOL. APPRENTICES WILL ALSO SHADOW COUNTY-LEVEL AGENTS WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE FACULTY SPECIALIST. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES ARE TO TEACH STUDENTS MORE ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREERS IN EXTENSION; EXPAND EXTENSION EXPERIENCE AMONG CANDIDATES PURSUING TECHNICAL DEGREES FOR FUTURE EMPLOYMENT; AND INCREASE SUPPORT OF EXTENSION PROGRAMS. THE INTENDED IMPACTS ARE TO STRENGTHEN THE CONTENT KNOWLEDGE OF POTENTIAL FUTURE EXTENSION AGENTS TO BETTER SERVE CLIENTELE IN THEIR COUNTY/REGION, WHILE PROMOTING RESEARCH AND EXTENSION EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS.