In this episode of Inside Pima County with Rex Scott, we take a slight detour from our usual conversations with Pima County program and department directors to highlight the University of Arizona’s Cooperative Extension. In this episode, we’re joined by Jenn Parlin, who is currently serving as the interim Cooperative Extension Director. We’re delighted to have her with us to shed light on this unique and tremendously impactful resource.

Jenn found her way to Arizona and chose to stay because of our iconic mountains and sunshine. Jenn’s journey with Cooperative Extension began in 2010, following her time at the University of Florida, where she earned degrees in business and sociology. After running business operations for her team, she steadily moved through roles as business manager, program coordinator, faculty member, and now serves as the interim director.

Cooperative Extension, she explains, is rooted in the mission of land‑grant universities, institutions established to ensure that education and innovation reach beyond campus walls and into surrounding communities. For Arizona, the University of Arizona fulfills that role, and since 1915 Cooperative Extension has served as a bridge between university expertise and the everyday needs of residents across all 15 counties and multiple tribal communities.

Jenn walks us through the four pillars of Cooperative Extension: Family and Consumer Sciences; Agriculture and Natural Resources; 4‑H Youth Development; and Tribal Extension programs. Whether it provides support for mental health, nutrition, financial literacy, sustainable agriculture, youth leadership, or culturally relevant community engagement, Cooperative Extension is designed to serve people across their entire lifespan—from youth discovering vegetables at Tucson Village Farm to older adults seeking gardening advice from the Master Gardeners program.

With programs ranging from urban agriculture at Tucson Village Farm and culinary education at the Garden Kitchen, to wildfire mitigation, invasive species management, livestock support, and Smartscape trainings for landscapers, Cooperative Extension’s reach is broad and intentionally community‑centered. Many programs are free, tailored to local needs, and enhanced by an extraordinary network of volunteers.

In this episode, Jenn highlights how Cooperative Extension collaborates closely with Pima County, expands access to nutritious food, engages youth through hands‑on learning, and supports families with practical tools to thrive. Whether you’re two, or one hundred and two, Cooperative Extension has something for you—and Jenn is here to help us understand just how valuable that is.