New director of Delta District brings decades of experience to Cooperative Extension Service
By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Jan. 24, 2025
Fast Facts:
- JJ Jones began as director of Delta District on Jan. 6
- Has worked in ag and natural resources for Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service for 20 years
- Director will oversee extension staff, programs in Delta District
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(Newsroom: With headshot of Jones)
LITTLE ROCK — As the new director of the Delta District for the Cooperative Extension Service, JJ Jones brings decades of experience in agriculture, natural resources and economics to the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
Jones began his new role on Jan. 6, and he said he looks forward to connecting with agents and constituents in the district’s 25 counties.
“I’ve got to get to know the district,” Jones said. “I’m scheduling a visit in every county, and I want to meet everybody in that county. That’s my goal, and I’m hoping to get that done in the first three months.”
Prior to joining the Division of Agriculture, Jones worked as an agriculture and natural resources program leader and ag economics specialist for the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service for 20 years. He began his career as an area specialist in farm management at the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service in 1994, where he worked for 10 years.
“JJ Jones comes to us after many years of service to Cooperative Extension in both Oklahoma and Tennessee,” said John Anderson, director of the Cooperative Extension Service for the Division of Agriculture. “Working from county and area positions in extension, JJ has built a strong national reputation for quality work. He is a nationally recognized authority on the economics of small ruminant production.
“He is also well respected among his peers, as clearly demonstrated by his leadership in the National Association of County Agricultural Agents,” Anderson said. “JJ has great experience in working across programmatic lines and in linking the resources of the land-grant system to county-level programming. I think he is ideally equipped to step into district administration, and I am excited to see what we can accomplish together as he takes on this role.”
Jones received a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a master’s degree in agricultural economics, both from Oklahoma State University. In his new role as director of the Delta District, Jones will oversee extension staff and programs in the eastern swath of Arkansas.
“My job is to make sure that my agents have the proper tools, equipment and training,” Jones said. “It’s my job to recognize a need that they have and remove any barriers to them meeting that need. I’ll be the liaison between them and upper administration, to be an advocate for them.”
Why extension matters
As director, Jones will help his district’s agriculture, 4-H and family and consumer sciences agents and extension staff serve their communities and connect constituents with best practices. In a world where people can easily access incorrect — and potentially harmful — information online, Jones said the role of extension is more important than ever.
“The internet has been the best and worst thing to happen to the extension service,” Jones said. “On the one hand, there are no boundaries to who can access the information we have, but on the other hand, some random person from four states over can tell you how to grow your crops, and it might not even be right. But as the extension service, our information is research-based and unbiased. I’m not trying to sell you anything, I’m just trying to tell you what works best.”
Jones grew up in Oklahoma, where his family had a small cow and calf operation. He also helped on his grandparents’ farm, where they raised cattle. After working in Tennessee, he and his wife moved back to Oklahoma, and they have raised sheep and goats on their property since 2007.
In addition to his extension work, Jones has been a member of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents since 1996, for which he is currently president-elect. He is also a member of Class XXI of the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program, and in February, he will travel with his cohort to Kenya for a two-week agriculture tour.
“It’s always interesting to see how people do things differently, to see different mindsets,” Jones said. “I’ve been doing this a long time, and you can get stuck doing things the same way, without knowing why you’re doing them. By going to see other places, you can get a new perspective.”
As he and his wife look for a new home — with enough acreage for a horse or a few sheep — in the Central Arkansas area, Jones said he is excited to get started with his work in the Delta District.
“I’m looking forward to being a part of this team and working to make Arkansas extension the best in the country,” Jones said.
To reach Jones, contact him at jjjones@uada.edu or 501-671-2019.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media Contact:
Rebekah Hall
rkhall@uada.edu
@RKHall_
501-671-2061