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Agriculture and Natural Resource Programs
 Agriculture and Natural Resource industries contributed $38,040,000 to Yavapai County's economy in 1997. This income has a positive impact on many other related businesses within the county. Natural resource education continues to be a
priority for maintaining the rural character of Yavapai County as urban growth occurs. Yavapai County residents need unbiased information and educational programs on stewardship and land use to ensure the viability of agriculture and the sustainability of our natural resources.
 Livestock Production
As production costs increase, more ranchers will need to utilize research-based information to assist in decisions which will optimize profitability and production efficiency, while practicing responsible stewardship of natural resources. Rangeland monitoring, livestock nutrition, financial management, and collaborative partnerships will become increasingly important as public land issues continue to present challenges to ranchers.
Horse Management
Many rural residents own 2-5 acre parcels and facilities for horses. Yet, many horse owners have little or limited knowledge of proper pasture management and horse care. Research-based horse science education and information are in high demand.
Horticulture
The Master Gardener program continues to be a high priority program that provides horticultural training for Extension volunteers. Trained Master Gardeners assist consumers in plant science and pest management in our arid, high elevation growing conditions. Residents call for new and better adapted plant varieties for orchards, fields, landscapes, and home gardens. In addition, Yavapai County's fresh produce growers need new and better ways to increase yields and market their fresh produce locally. Farmers, landscapers, and home gardeners also need information on local climate conditions and management practices.
 Water
Most of the water used for domestic, industrial, and agricultural use in Yavapai County is supplied by ground water. Ground water mining has recently been declared within the Prescott Active Management Area. This also has raised concerns
about the perennial flow of the Verde River in Verde Valley communities. Water quality is also a growing area of concern in Yavapai County. Rural residents not only rely on private wells for domestic water, but septic systems for sewage
disposal. Ground and surface water issues are serious issues that need to be addressed for Yavapai County's continued growth and prosperity.
Agriculture and Natural Resource Impacts
Livestock Production
Ninety-two Yavapai County livestock producers who participated in Extension programs such as range monitoring, livestock handling and nutrition, and
poisonous plant workshops, gathered information to better implement total resource management (range management, livestock handling and production, financial management).
 Horticulture
Marketing and assisting local fruit and vegetable producers increased the viability of small agricultural operations and increased public awareness about food and fiber production. In addition, a Farm Fresh brochure, listing all the producers in the county and a planting and harvest schedule for specific crops, was distributed to 1,200 consumers. This brochure helped increase produce sales for local growers. Fruit tree pruning demonstrations
were very well attended and provided excellent opportunities to market Extension programs and for the public to visit local orchards.
 Master Gardener
Fifty-nine trained Master Gardener volunteers contributed 1,708 hours answering horticulture inquiries. Master Gardeners assist the Agent in delivering research-based horticultural information to Yavapai County residents in both offices. Weekly Backyard Gardener columns appeared in the Red Rock News and Journal Extra providing the public with information on horticulture, plant science and natural resources.
 Water
Water programs were delivered to 1,500 people in the county through Water Education for Teachers (Project WET) training, a drinking water testing program, and community and classroom presentations. Teachers continue to use Project WET in their classrooms. Well water testing participants received data on the quality of
their own drinking water and learned how to purify water in their homes and landscapes. Community members learned about their watersheds, aquifers, and localized ground water conditions. A water resource educator was hired in November 1998 to expand delivery of these programs. Collaborations with the Verde Watershed
Association expanded water education opportunities from community members through Verde River Days and the Confluence newsletter.
Family and Youth Programs
The demands for family and youth programs have never been greater. Fifty percent of the population in Yavapai County represent families. Many residents are concerned about employment opportunities, child care, health services, and education, and the overall well-being of their families. Yavapai county consumers
want current information and non-formal education for their children and families. Consumers are concerned about violence, crime, and drug use in their communities. They are also concerned about the availability of support services to help the overall well-being of their families. Young people need opportunities to develop their life skills. Our young people are our most valuable resource. Youth need opportunities that challenge and teach them academic, technical, and vocational life skills. In Yavapai County, over 21,000 youth are enrolled in the public education system.
 4-H Youth Development
4-H provides youth 5-19 years old an opportunity to learn from over 100 projects with adult leaders who serve as mentors and role models. Historically, 4-H has been a very strong program in Yavapai County. 4-H members and leaders have traditionally been involved in livestock projects. As the county experiences growth, 4-H has an opportunity to expand services to more young people as well as to teach youth to appreciate our natural resources, ranching, agriculture, and the rural environment of Yavapai County. Animal projects continue to be strong, however, there is an increasing shift in the number of youth who are participating in non traditional areas such as shooting sports, backpacking, and rocketry. The rapid population growth that Yavapai County is experiencing has brought many new youth into the community who have non traditional areas of interest. It is anticipated that the non-livestock project enrollments will continue to increase in the future.
 Teens
Teen programming has been identified as a high priority issue. Several partnerships have been established to provide research-based activities to address the needs of teens. Leadership development programs are needed to strengthen life skills of teens to encourage participation and assume leadership in their communities. In an effort to identify teen perceptions of community and needs, a
teen survey was conducted.
Families
Stressful family conditions exist for many families in Yavapai County, resulting from rapid growth, too few jobs, low-paying jobs, and lack of sufficient services. The average poverty index for the County is 13.5% with several other families who are living just above the poverty.
Food Safety
Consumers in Yavapai County are concerned about food safety related to selection, preparation, and storage of food. They also want to be assured that their food is safe when they go out to eat at a restaurant. Several educational programs were offered this year to educate consumers and food service providers, the National Fight BAC campaign was initiated, community food safety workshops were offered, the HACCP program was offered which is a state of the art training for controlling foodborne illness to food service providers. Additionally, many consumers have relocated from areas of lower elevation and need information on high altitude cooking.
Family and Youth Impacts
 4-H Youth Development
Yavapai County 4-H has provided learning opportunities for youth ages 5-19 in a variety of project areas. Yavapai 4-H club members enrolled in 53 project areas this year with the top six enrollments in the horse, swine, shooting sports, cloverkids, small stock, sheep, and clogging projects. Twenty nine 4-H clubs were active in the county and 131 leaders provided programs to 651 youth. Several countywide educational activities included: small stock day where 100 youth and adults gathered for learning, fun, and a farm tour at Young's Farm, 150 youth participated in the 4-H/FFA Show &, Sale and complete their livestock projects with the sale at auction, 100 businesses spent over $100,000 to support Yavapai
County 4-H members by purchasing their project animals, and a livestock
judging event was offered during the Yavapai County Fair with 40 youth participating. Several county workshops were offered in the large stock project areas: beef, sheep, swine, and goats. Over 100 youth and adults participated in these workshops. Several livestock judging opportunities were offered in the county which resulted in the selection of four teams to represent Yavapai County at the 1999 Arizona Nationals Junior Livestock Judging Contest. In July, Yavapai County sent a 10 youth 1 adult leader delegation to the first annual Arizona
Teen Congress in Tucson where they had the opportunity to attend workshops, learn leadership skills, and meet youth from around the state.
 Teens
The second year of the TOPAZ (Teen Opinion Poll Arizona) survey reached 1,422 students, 9th through 12th grade at Prescott High School. Students reported they feel close to their families and overall have a positive teen-parent relationship. Alcohol use and grades appear to be concerns with these teens. A committee is looking at the survey results for the last two years and developing a plan-of-action. Other youth leadership opportunities were offered in collaboration with Yavapai College Leadership Center, Yavapai County Health Department Smokeless Tobacco program, Tri-city Youth Count, Jr. PAL, and YMCA. Approximately 325 teens in Yavapai County have participated in leadership development activities this year. The Teen Opinion Poll Arizona (TOPAZ)has provided an indication of youth perceptions of what it is like to grow up in the Prescott area. This has resulted in the formation of community partnerships to work together to address the needs young people. Leadership development programming has resulted in increased participation of young people in service to their community.
Families
Resources for Families Fair participants increased their knowledge of support services available in Yavapai County communities to improve their overall quality of life. The resource directory developed for the fair is distributed in over 50 community agencies. Educational research-based information and education has also helped families in financial management, parenting, and career and work choices. Cooperative Extension offered the third annual Resources for Families Fair to assist 450 families in meeting their basic needs and to inform them about countywide family support services.
Food Safety
Food Safety presentations about safe food principles and practices have increased consumer knowledge and understanding of food safety. Food service providers have adopted safe food practices in food handling and preparation. High Altitude Cooking workshops have improved consumers overall quality of food. Food
Safety efforts has resulted in community partnerships with education, health, business, and industry.
Materials last updated on March 4, 2000
Located at http://ag.arizona.edu/yavapai/
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© 1998 The University of Arizona. All contents
copyrighted. All rights reserved.
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Honorable County Board of Supervisors and Citizens of Yavapai
County:
The county faculty and staff of
the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County, submit our annual report to the citizens of Yavapai County. This report highlights the accomplishments of Cooperative Extension from January 1, to December 31, 1998.