07/23/2026
Congrats to our own Darrell Banks for being featured in the "Our People" section on the MSU website! Article below:
Darrell Banks knew he had found the job he was meant to have when he became a county agent with the Mississippi State University Extension Service in 2012.
Some of that confirmation came in the form of helping someone realize a dream, like a new landowner who had always lived in a large city who inherited a house and 80 acres of land in Mississippi from his father, who wanted to turn the property into something productive.
Even though had no farming background or experience, so he phoned his local MSU Extension office. Banks took the call.
“We started with soil sampling and used research-based information to help him make informed decisions. I connected him with the right resources and people who could help him develop his vision,” Banks said. “Today, he operates a successful vegetable business and is celebrating eight years of farming. Seeing someone go from having no agricultural experience to becoming a successful producer reminds me of the impact Extension has in helping people turn ideas into reality.”
Working for MSU Extension suits Banks perfectly because the career combines his two most prominent interests: agriculture and service to others.
Currently based in Choctaw County, Banks also has served Lowndes County as an agent specializing in two of MSU Extension’s four core program areas: 4-H youth development and agriculture and natural resources.
As MSU’s educational outreach arm, MSU Extension delivers practical education and information grounded in research to families, businesses and communities in offices in all 82 of the state’s counties. Its program areas also include community and economic development along with family, health and wellness.
What Banks enjoys most about working directly with people in rural communities is the opportunity to build relationships and make a meaningful difference.
“I enjoy listening, understanding local needs, and helping people find solutions,” he said. “I enjoy seeing a young person gain confidence through 4-H, seeing a producer improve their operation, or a family benefit from a program. These are the things that remind me why Extension work matters.”
Experience serving in both Lowndes and Choctaw counties has shaped his approach to Extension work. Through these roles, he has learned the importance of understanding each community’s people, resources and unique needs.
“Working in Choctaw County has reinforced to me that Extension is not just about delivering information,” Banks said. “It is about developing relationships with producers, families, volunteers, youth and community leaders to create lasting impacts.”
