Yavapai County Cooperative Extension: Serving the Land Grant Mission through community engagement
Last week, Dr. Suresh Garimella, the 23rd president of the University of Arizona made his way north to visit the University of Arizona’s interests in Yavapai County. He toured University Experiment Stations in the Verde Valley, engaged with stakeholders, and paid a visit to Yavapai County Cooperative Extension. On this trip, the president discussed the strategic imperatives that would allow us to fulfill our promise of being a “force for good”. One of those imperatives focuses on engagement with the community and was an exciting reminder of the Land Grant mission and why Cooperative Extension is so special in Yavapai County.
The University of Arizona in Yavapai County
Founded in 1885, The University of Arizona is our Land Grant University, created to bring the benefits of university academics to Arizonans. The University’s first documented presence in Yavapai County came in 1911, when the experimental “Prescott Dry Farm” was established to investigate the feasibility of farming without irrigation in Yavapai County. A year later, a “Farmers’ Demonstration Train” brought new agricultural discoveries from Tucson to the rest of the state, serving as a preview of what Cooperative Extension would become.
If you are unfamiliar with Cooperative Extension, it is a nationwide program founded by the Smith Lever Act of 1914, with the specific goal of “extending” the University to the people by placing an agent in every county, traditionally supporting stakeholders with modern innovations in agriculture, mechanics, youth development, and home economics. Yavapai County received its first agent, George Scherer, in 1919.
Yavapai County Cooperative Extension Today
Yavapai County Cooperative Extension has grown significantly since the early 20th century, now boasting 4 agents, 14 staff members, and offices in both Camp Verde and Prescott. While we have grown, the mission to deliver objective, science-based information to meet the needs and priorities of stakeholders, remains the same. We aim to collaborate with and not dictate to the community what they need but instead listen and react to their priorities. Some of our partners in collaboration include Yavapai College, Yavapai Cattle Growers
Association, Yavapai County Fairs, local governments, school districts, and libraries. This allows us to create quality programming and reach a broad variety of stakeholders.
Today, those programs fall under the following categories:
Agriculture & Natural Resources
• Horticulture: Programming that is geared to support both consumer and commercial stakeholders, including the Master Gardener volunteer program, commercial farming support, and various workshops including fruit tree pruning and compost management. Additionally, two free “Help Desks” (one in Camp Verde and the other in Prescott), are open to the public and available by phone, email, or walk-in.
• Range & Livestock Management: Education for both the commercial producer and homesteader, as well as monitoring services to help land managers make informed decisions, notable programming includes the Range 101 and Livestock Basics workshops.
Family, Consumer, & Health Sciences (formerly known as home economics):
• Food Safety: Rooted in strong collaboration between Extension and Yavapai County Health Services and providing programming such as canning classes and support for food producers and consumers.
• Nutrition & Physical Activity: Free community programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education, Nature Niños family outdoor education initiative, and the Diabetes Prevention Program.
• Childcare Health Consultation: A collaboration with Arizona’s early childhood agency, First Things First, this program provides training and technical assistance to 40 of Yavapai County’s early childhood education centers to ensure a safe and healthy educational environment.
4-H:
• Youth Development: 10 clubs serve youth throughout the county with a focus on community service, civic engagement, and leadership through projects such as livestock, Lego robotics, and shooting sports.
• STEM Education: 4-H staff-delivered science education to school-age children throughout Yavapai County school districts
What I believe to be special about Cooperative Extension is that at its core, it is about service to the community you live in. The Smith Lever Act was created at a time when community success was predicated on collaboration, engagement, and access to emerging technologies, and Extension still has roots in those principles. This article is your invitation to engage, collaborate, and serve with us to meet the needs and priorities of Yavapai County.
Matt Halldorson is the Director and an associate agent for Yavapai County Cooperative Extension. For more information about upcoming programming, the Help Desk, or how to enroll in 4-H, please visit the website https://extension.arizona.edu/local-offices/yavapai-county, sign up for our newsletter, or contact us directly at:
Prescott Office
840 Rodeo Dr Building C
Prescott, AZ 86305
928-445-6590
Camp Verde Office
2830 N Commonwealth Dr Suite 103
Camp Verde, AZ 86322
928-554-8999
Office hours at both locations are M-Th, 9-12, 1-4