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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WE'LL ASK THE LARGEST EGG PRODUCER IN THE SOUTHWEST ABOUT THE AVIAN FLU AND ITS IMPACT ON EGG PRICES AND SHORTAGES.

>>> A NEW STUDY SUGGESTS THAT EXTREME HEAT CAN ACCELERATE THE AGING PROCESS.

>>> AND WE'LL HEAR ABOUT THE PHOENIX ZOO'S ANIMAL AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS TARGETED TOWARDS TEENS.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE U.S. TRADE WAR AGAINST CANADA ESCALATED TODAY WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYING HE WOULD IMPOSE AN ADDITIONAL 25% TARIFF ON CANADIAN STEEL AND ALUMINUM IMPORTS.

THAT EFFECTIVELY DOUBLES THE TARIFFS PLANNED TO BE PUT IN PLACE TOMORROW.

THE PRESIDENT SAID THE ADDITIONAL TARIFFS WERE IN RETALIATION FOR ONTARIO'S 25% SURCHARGE ON ELECTRICITY TO THREE U.S. STATES, WHICH ITSELF IS IN RESPONSE TO PREVIOUS U.S. TARIFFS, BUT LATER TODAY ONTARIO'S PREMIER SAID HE WAS SUSPENDING THE 25% SURCHARGE ON ELECTRICITY EXPORTS AFTER SPEAKING WITH U.S. COMMERCE SECRETARY AND AGREEING TO MEET WITH HIM THURSDAY IN WASHINGTON.

>>> PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID HE WOULD DECLARE A NATIONAL ELECTRICITY EMERGENCY IN MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA AND NEW YORK IF THE CANADIAN SURCHARGES WENT INTO EFFECT.

THE PRESIDENT THREATENED TO INCREASE TARIFFS ON CARS COMING INTO THE U.S. FROM CANADA.

A MOVE THE PRESIDENT CLAIMS WOULD SHUT DOWN CANADA'S AUTO MANUFACTURING BUSINESS.

>>> THE PRESIDENT REITERATED PLANS TO MAKE CANADA THE 51st STATE SAYING, QUOTE, THE ARTIFICIAL LINE OF SEPARATION DRAWN MANY YEARS AGO WILL FINALLY DISAPPEAR AND THE, QUOTE, ONLY THING THAT MAKES SENSE IS FOR CANADA TO BE ABSORBED INTO THE U.S. >>> ALL THIS AS ANOTHER SOBERING ECONOMIC SURVEY WAS RELEASED TODAY.

THE UNCERTAINTY INDEX CONDUCTED BY THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS CLIMBED LAST MONTH TO SECOND HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE 1973, WITH RESPONDENTS WHO BELIEVE IT'S A GOOD TIME TO EXPAND SHOWING THE BIGGEST MONTHLY DECLINE SINCE THE START OF THE COVID PANDEMIC.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S POLICIES WERE OVERWHELMING CONCERN FOR BUSINESSES SURVEY.

>>> HEALTH NOTE, MEASLES CASES IN WEST TEXAS CONTINUE TO INCREASE.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPORTED AT LEAST 223 CASES, THAT'S 25 MORE THAN REPORTED FRIDAY.

AT LEAST 29 PATIENTS HAVE BEEN HOSPITALIZED WITH ONE FATALITY, UNVACCINATED CHILD WHO DIED LAST MONTH.

THIS AS NEW MEXICO REPORTS 30 CASES OF MEASLES, THOUGH OFFICIALS HAVEN'T CONFIRMED IF THERE'S A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO OUTBREAKS.

>>> THE COST OF EGGS IN THE U.S. IS ROUGHLY $4.95 A DOZEN, UP 15% FROM A YEAR AGO AND FIVE TIMES OVERALL INFLATION RATE OF 3%.

REASONS FOR THE HIGH PRICES INCLUDE THE AVIAN FLU AND PERSISTENT EGG SHORTAGES.

JOINING US IS GLENN HICKMAN FROM THE LARGEST PRODUCER OF EGGS IN THE SOUTHWEST.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

TED: THE AVIAN FLU IS HOVERING OVER EVERYTHING.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT AS FAR AS EGG PRICES?

>> WELL, EGGS ARE COMMODITY WHETHER YOU TALK ABOUT CORN, COPPER OR DOZENS OF OTHER COMMODITIES OUT THERE.

WHEN THE COMMODITY IS IN SHORT SUPPLY, THE PRICE GOES UP TO RATION THE AVAILABLE SUPPLY AMONG THE WILLING BUYERS.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW, WE LOST OVER 30 MILLION LAYING HENS JUST SINCE THE START OF THE YEAR IN THIS COUNTRY.

TED: AS FAR AS YOUR FARM IS CONCERNED, WHAT KIND OF EUTHANIZATION IS GOING ON?

WHAT NUMBERS YOU GOT?

>> WE'VE BEEN UNFORTUNATELY AFFECTED AT ONE OF OUR FARMS IN MARICOPA.

WE LOST A TOTAL OF 1.1 MILLION HENS TO THE DISEASE.

TED: WOW.

IS THAT MARICOPA FACILITY, WAS THAT SHUTTERED FOR A WHILE?

>> ACTUALLY, TED, IT'S CURRENTLY EMPTY.

WE DON'T HAVE THE BIRDS IN OUR GROWING QUEUE TO FILL THE FARM UP RIGHT NOW.

TED: WITH THAT IN MIND, THE IMPACT ON SHORTAGES, MUST BE HUGE?

>> IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT.

OUR BUSINESS IS 81 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR, AND WE BUILT OUR BUSINESS ON SERVICING CUSTOMERS AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN THAT RECORD OF SUPPLY.

TED: AND WHAT ARE YOU SEEING THE RESULTS OF HAVING TO SHUTTER THE FACILITY AND THE HENS LOST, THE RESULTS ON THE MARKET, THE RESULTS IN TERMS OF SUPPLY, THE RESULTS IN TERMS OF PRICES?

>> WELL, THE EGG MARKET IS QUOTED ON NATIONAL BASIS.

SO OUR DEFICIENCY JUST ADDS TO THE OVERALL DEFICIENCY OF SUPPLY IN THE ENTIRE MARKET.

IT HAS LED TO INCREASED PRICES AND SPOT SHORTAGES.

TED: ARE THERE ANY AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHERE IT SEEMS WORSE?

>> IT IS BASICALLY ENDEMIC IN THE WILD BIRD POPULATION.

WE'VE HAD ILLNESS IN TEXAS.

WE'VE HAD ILLNESS IN MINNESOTA.

WE'VE HAD ILLNESS ON THE WEST COAST, AND WE'VE HAD ILLNESS ON THE EAST COAST.

TED: PRECAUTIONS.

WHAT PRECAUTIONS ARE YOU TAKING?

>> TED, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE WE CAN THINK TO DO.

WE WASH VEHICLES MULTIPLE TIMES IF THEY PENETRATE THE FENCE LINE.

WE HAVE ALL EMPLOYEE PARKING REMOTELY.

WE DELIVER THEM TO WORKSITE.

IF THEY GO INSIDE AND WORK INSIDE THE BARNS AND WORK WITH THE BIRDS, THEY TAKE A SHOWER, PUT ON COMPANY CLOTHES BEFORE THEY CAN ENTER.

WE'VE GONE TO EXTREMES TO TRY TO KEEP ANY DISEASE ON THE OUTSIDE.

TED: WHAT DOES IT DO TO YOUR OVERHEAD?

>> IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE BECAUSE IT'S NOT ONLY EXPENSIVE TO PROVIDE GARMENTS AND SHOWER FACILITIES AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT ALSO CHEWS UP A PORTION OF THE WORKDAY.

TED: YOU TALKED ABOUT PROTECTING WORKER AND WORKER SAFETY.

AS FAR AS THE BIRDS ARE -- HOW DO YOU KEEP WILD BIRDS OUT?

WHAT DO YOU DO?

HOW DOES THIS WORK?

>> EVEN ON THE CAGE-FREE BARNS, ALL THE BIRDS ARE INSIDE.

THEY DON'T HAVE OUTSIDE ACCESS AND THERE'S NO OPENINGS, WHERE THE AIR COMES IN, IT'S SCREENED, THERE ARE NO OPENINGS THAT WILD BIRDS ENTER THE BARNS.

TED: HOW DID IT HAPPEN IN THE FIRST PLACE?

HOW DID MARICOPA GET SHUTTERED?

>> I WILL TELL YOU THOUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DISAGREES, THIS VIRUS IS AIRBORNE.

THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE'VE TRACKED IT IN MECHANICALLY.

I'M NOT JUST SAYING THAT FOR HICKMAN'S EGG RANCH, FOR THE REST OF THE INDUSTRY.

WE'RE GOOD STEWARDS OF BIOSECURITY.

TED: PEOPLE ARE SAYING SOMETHING FROM THE OUTSIDE, WHETHER IT'S ON MACHINERY, WHETHER IT'S ON FEET, SOMETHING GETS IN FROM THE OUTSIDE, THAT INFECTS THE INSIDE, AND YOU'RE SAYING NOT SO MUCH?

>> I'M SAYING THE VIRUS CAN ATTACH ITSELF TO A DUST PARTICLE THAT WE BRING IN THE BARNS.

FUNCTIONALLY IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

OUR BARNS USE A MILLION CUBIC FEET PER MINUTE ON EACH BARN, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH FILTER MEDIA TO USE TO KEEP THE DUST PARTICLES OUT.

TED: YOU MENTIONED WORKER SAFETY AND THE PRECAUTIONS.

SICKNESS DOWN THERE?

HOW MANY FOLKS HAVE GOTTEN SICK?

>> FORTUNATELY, WE HAVEN'T HAD A SINGLE EMPLOYEE GET INFECTED.

TED: YOU'RE KEEPING THE PROTOCOLS IN SHAPE.

HOW LONG DO YOU KEEP THE PRECAUTIONS GOING?

>> WE'VE BEEN DOING IT SINCE THE OUTBREAK IN 2015.

WE JUST INCREASED THE INTENSITY OF IT SINCE THEN.

WE'RE DOING IT EVERY DAY.

TED: IS THERE SUCH A THING AS AN AVIAN FLU VACCINE?

>> THAT'S WHAT'S UNFORTUNATE.

THERE ARE COUNTRIES IN EUROPE WHERE FOOD PRODUCTION IS NOT TAKEN FOR GRANTED, THAT ARE VACCINATING POULTRY, THAT VACCINE IS MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES.

HOWEVER, WE'RE PRECLUDED FROM USING THAT.

IT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED YET.

TED: SO THE REASON IT'S NOT BEING USED IS BECAUSE IT LACKS APPROVAL?

>> THE REASON THAT IT HASN'T BEEN APPROVED YET IS POLITICS.

WHEN YOU VACCINATE CHICKENS, OUR VIRUS DOESN'T DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN CHICKENS FOR MEAT AND CHICKENS FOR EGGS AND THE CHICKEN MEAT INDUSTRY HAS BEEN AGAINST THIS.

TED: WHY ARE THEY AGAINST THIS?

IT'S KILLING THE BIRDS.

>> IT BECOMES A TRADE ISSUE THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE EXPORT MARKETS, SO THEY DON'T WANT ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT THAT.

TED: LAST QUESTION, THE PRESIDENT TODAY SAID THAT GAS PRICES WERE GOING DOWN AND EGG PRICES ARE GOING DOWN.

I DON'T SEE ANY PROOF OF THAT.

ARE YOU SEEING PROOF OF THAT?

ARE THEY GOING DOWN?

>> YES, THE EGG MARKET HAS DROPPED FASTER IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS THAN IT WENT UP IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS.

TED: WHY DO YOU THINK THAT HAPPENED?

>> I THINK THERE ARE BIRDS COMING BACK INTO PRODUCTION.

THERE'S PULLBACK IN DEMAND.

I THINK THERE IS PANIC BUYING BECAUSE EGGS ARE A STAPLE ITEM AND PEOPLE FILLED THEIR REFRIGERATORS AND DON'T NEED THEM FOR ANOTHER WEEK OR TWO.

TED: SO THE PRESIDENT GOT IT RIGHT.

GLENN HICKMAN, HICKMAN'S FAMILY FARMS, BEST OF LUCK TO YOU, APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

.

TED: A NEW STUDY SUGGESTS THAT EXTREME HEAT CAN ACCELERATE THE AGING PROCESS.

SO MUCH SO, THAT EXPERIENCING LONGER PERIODS OF EXTREME HEAT ACCELERATED AGEING IN OLDER PEOPLE BY MORE THAN TWO YEARS.

FOR MORE ON ALL THIS, WE WELCOME DR. AMIT SHAH FROM THE MAYO CLINIC.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SO EXTREME HEAT CAN ACCELERATE AGING, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

FIRST OF ALL, DO YOU AGREE?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S INTRIGUING.

THE STUDY WAS DONE ON EPOGENETIC KNOCKS.

WE KNOW GENETICS, THE GENES YOU ARE BORN WITH, BUT THEY'RE MODIFIED BY THE ENVIRONMENT LIKE EPOGENETICS, WE CAN SEE WITH A DROP OF BLOOD OR LOOKING AT SOMEBODY WHAT'S THE DNA LIKE?

FOR EXAMPLE, A SMOKER MIGHT HAVE A LOT OF EPOGENETIC CHANGES THAT SHOW THEY CHANGED MORE.

PEOPLE LOOK AT THIS FOR LIFESTYLE ORIENTED THINGS AND HEAT WE CAN ADD TO THE LIST.

EXPOSURE TO EXTREME HEAT MAY AGE US AT AN EPOGENETIC LEVEL.

TED: IN OTHER WORDS, THINGS ARE CHANGING AT THAT LEVEL.

>> EXACTLY.

TED: HOW IS EXTREME HEAT DEFINED AND WHAT IS EXPOSURE DEFINED AS?

>> IN THIS PARTICULAR STUDY, COMPLICATED STUDY, IT WASN'T LONGITUDINAL, IT DID ONE TIME POINT, ONE YEAR AND SIX YEAR WERE THE ONES THERE SEEMED TO BE A LOT OF MOST OF THE CHANGES SEEN AT, AND EXTREME HEAT WAS DEFINED AT 90 TO 104 DEGREE, 104 TO 124 AND EXTREME DANGER WHICH WAS 124 AND ABOVE.

SINCE THIS IS A U.S.-BASED STUDY, THERE WERE NO GROUPS 124 DEGREES AND ABOVE.

TED: IF OVER 90 GETS YOUR ATTENTION, THERE ARE NIGHTS WE DON'T GET BELOW 90?

>> YEAH, THAT IS THE DANGER TIME, FOR ME AS A GERIATRICIAN, WHEN WE DON'T COOL BELOW 90, WE SEE THE HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES IN THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE.

TED: YOU GO OUT IN THE EXTREME HEAT, YOU DO YOUR BUSINESS, YOU GET BACK IN, AND COOL DOWN, IS THE ACCELERATION SLOWED THAT WAY, OR THE IDEA, ONCE YOU ARE EXPOSED, THAT'S BALL GAME?

>> WE DON'T KNOW YET, WE NEED MUCH MORE STUDY, JUST LIKE POLLUTION HAS EFFECTS ON US OVER TIME, THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MIGHT HAVE EFFECT ON US OVER TIME.

AND MEANS WE NEED TO DO MORE ABOUT STAYING COOL, ABOUT CHANGING OUR LIVED ENVIRONMENT ABOUT SHADE, ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE.

THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO AT SOCIETAL LEVEL AND SHORT PERIODS OF EXTREME HEAT EXPOSURE, ONE TIME EPISODE OF HEAT STROKE OR HEAT EXHAUSTION, IT COULD CHANGE YOUR DNA METHYLATION.

TED: AND FOR OLDER FOLKS, DANGEROUS?

>> DANGEROUS FOR US ALL.

THIS STUDY WAS DONE IN PEOPLE 56 AND ABOVE, BUT THERE'S BEEN STUDIES OF YOUNGER FOLKS, THE DNA CHANGES, THE DNA CHANGES HAPPEN IN OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, EVEN EARLIER.

TED: WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE RATE OF AGING?

DOES IT CHANGE FROM PERSON TO PERSON?

>> IT DOES.

SO YOU CAN SEE THIS, WE KNEW THERE IS ALWAYS GENETICS AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

THE EPOGENETICS IS HOW DOES ENVIRONMENT ACTUALLY CHANGE THE WAY OUR GENES ARE EXPRESSED, PROTEINS ARE EXPRESSED, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT AGES PEOPLE MORE.

TED: AS FAR AS HEAT IS CONCERNED AND EXTREME HEAT IN THIS SITUATION, SOMEONE IN ARIZONA, SOMEONE IN MINNESOTA, COULD THERE BE A REAL EPOGENETIC DIFFERENCE?

>> THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IN THE STUDY.

IT WAS A NATIONALLY REPRESENTED SAMPLE AND THEY WERE COMPARING PEOPLE WHO HAD TEN OR LESS OF THE EXTREME HEAT VERSUS THOSE WHO HAD A LOT MORE, THAT'S WHEN THEY FIGURED OUT THIS DIFFERENCE AT A CELLULAR LEVEL, THERE WAS DIFFERENCE.

DOES IT MATTER IN TERMS OF ACTUAL LIFE EXPECTANCY?

WE DON'T KNOW.

THAT'S WHERE THE EPOGENETIC CLOCKS ARE APPEALING BECAUSE YOU CAN DO STUDIES IN REALTIME.

>> THE DEVELOPMENT OF DISEASES AND DISABILITIES COULD BE AT PLAY HERE?, COULD BE.

TED: WHAT DO WE TAKE FROM ALL THIS?

>> HEAT STROKE CAN KILL, WHEN YOU ARE OLDER, YOU CAN'T HANDLE HIGH HEAT, CAN'T THERMOREGULATE AS WELL.

WHEN WE'RE YOUNGER, WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THESE THINGS BECAUSE WE MAY CHANGE OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THIS IN THE FUTURE AND/OR HOW WE AGE.

TED: LET'S SAY YOU ARE YOUNG AND IN ARIZONA AND EXPOSED TO EXTREME HEAT SO MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS, CAN THE EPOGENETICS, DO THEY ADAPT?

IS IT EASIER FOR YOU TO HANDLE THAT THAN SOMEONE WHO COMES IN FROM MINNESOTA LATER IN LIFE?

>> SOMETHING WE DON'T KNOW.

THAT'S THE COUNTERARGUMENT, WE SEE THE CHANGES, ARE SOME OF THE CHANGES JUST THE GENES ADAPTING OUR BODIES TO BETTER HANDLE EXTREME HEAT.

WE NEED A LOT MORE STUDY, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S A SIMILAR CHANGE THAT WE SEE IN OTHER SORT OF BAD ENVIRONMENTAL THINGS LIKE AIR POLLUTION OR SMOKING OR OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT, AND IF WE'RE SEEING THE SAME CHANGES, SHOULD GIVE US PAUSE THAT WE PAY ATTENTION TO OUR HEAT AND URBAN HEAT ISLANDS.

TED: DR. AMIT SHAH, MAYO CLINIC, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

.

TED: THE PHOENIX ZOO IS OFFERING TWO PROGRAMS TO TEENAGERS TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE BETTER ENGAGE WITH ANIMALS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

JOINING US IS RYAN JONES, THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR AT PHOENIX ZOO AND WITH US IS PEACH, A LESSER MADAGASCAR TENREC, NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH A HEDGEHOG, DON'T CALL THAT A HEDGEHOG.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

WE HAVE THE ISSUE.

THIS IS PEACH, EVERY DAY GUESTS COME IN AND LOOK AT THAT ADORABLE HEDGEHOG.

WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT OR NOT, GENETICALLY SPEAKING THIS IS CLOSER TO AN ELEPHANT THAN A HEDGEHOG.

TED: COME ON.

>> YOU SHOULD FACT CHECK EVERYTHING I TELL YOU.

TED: THE LITTLE TINY ELEPHANT IS ON THE SHOW.

WE'VE HAD PEACH ON THE SHOW.

SHE IS A PEACH.

WHAT A CUTE LITTLE ANIMAL.

COUPLE OF PROGRAMS FOR TEENAGERS, TALK TO US ABOUT THEM.

>> YES, WE'RE VERY EXCITED BECAUSE WE HAVE RETURNED ONE OF OUR LEGACY EVENTS FROM COVID.

SO OUR ZOO TEENS PROGRAM IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR TEENAGERS WHO LOVE TALKING ABOUT ANIMALS TO ENGAGE GUESTS AT THE ZOO ABOUT FAVORITE ANIMALS.

SO THAT IS A PROGRAM AND APPLICATIONS JUST OPENED AND WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL THE 31st OF MAY, AND THEY GET TO JUST PICK A DIFFERENT NICHE, IF YOU LOVE SPOTTING CHEETAH WITH CHEETAH SCOPES OR TAKE THE ALLIGATOR SKULL AND STUDY THE BITE FORCE.

TED: THAT'S THE ZOO TEENS PROGRAM?

>> CORRECT.

TED: THERE'S ANOTHER ONE CALLED TRAILBLAZERS YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL.

WHAT'S THAT ABOUT?

>> BEFORE WE RETURNED THE ZOO TEENS PROGRAM, WE WANTED TO HEAR FROM THE TEENS IN THE VALLEY, WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO TEENS.

MY BOSS NINA STARTED THE TRAILBLAZERS WHERE THEY DESIGN OTHER TEEN PROGRAMS AT THE ZOO, AND THEY DO AMAZING WORK, INCLUDING BUILDING DIFFERENT BEHAVIORAL ENRICHMENTS FOR OUR ANIMALS LIKE AN INDIAN BEAR, THEY BUILT A SWING FOR HIM TO ENJOY AND SURVEYED OUR INVASIVE APPLE SNAILS INTRODUCED IN OUR WATERWAYS.

THEY'VE DONE AMAZING SERVICE PROJECTS ON TOP OF HELPING DESIGN OTHER TEEN PROJECTS AT THE "ZOOLANDER" WHAT'S THE REASON BEHIND THE PROGRAMS.

IT'S MORE THAN ENGAGE AND EDUCATION.

THERE'S A GROWTH PROCESS, A LEARNING PROCESS, A MATURITY PROCESS, I WOULD IMAGINE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE'RE HOPING TO FOSTER NOT ONLY A SENSE OF COMMUNITY WITH CONSERVATIONISTS THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY BUT WANT THE NEXT GENERATION TO BE READY TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE THE GUESTS AND THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES ON HOW THEY CAN MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

TED: HELPS WITH PROFESSIONAL SKILLS I IMAGINE AS WELL.

>> WE DO AN ANNUAL TEEN CAREER CONFERENCE WHERE, THEY LEARN HOW TO DO RESUME BUILDING, THEY GET TO DO INTERVIEW MOCK TRIALS AS WELL, AND, OF COURSE, THEY GET TO LEARN HOW TO WORK WITH SOME OF OUR ANIMALS.

THERE'S A PARTNERSHIP WE DO WITH OUR FARM TEAM, WHERE THEY GET TO LEARN BASIC HUSBANDRY SKILLS.

TED: VERY COOL.

HOW IMPORTANT FOR THE ZOO TO GET THE YOUTH PERSPECTIVE GOING?

>> IT IS AMAZING.

IF YOU CAN IMAGINE, IF I WERE TO GO UP TO MAYBE A REALLY YOUNG KINDERGARTNER, THEY MIGHT BE INTIMIDATED BY ME, BUT OUR TEENAGERS ARE THE MAGICAL MIDDLE GROUND WHERE KIDDOS LOOK UP TO A TEEN AND ARE INSPIRED, NOT AS INTIMIDATED AS WE ARE WITH ADULTS.

TED: ANY NEW PROGRAMS IN THE WORKS OR FOCUS ON THESE TWO?

>> WE BROUGHT BACK OUR ZOO TEENS, FINISHING UP OUR FIRST YEAR, AND THERE ARE APPLICATIONS FOR BOTH PROGRAMS LIVE ON OUR WEBSITE.

IF YOU GO ONTO THE PROGRAM'S APP AND HIT TEENS, YOU'LL FIND IT THERE.

WE WANT TO DO MORE FOR YOUNG ADULTS.

WE DO A LOT OF GREAT STUFF FOR LITTLE KIDDOS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE RETIRED, THEY HAVE AN AWESOME PROGRAM.

TED: THERE IS ONE FOR RETIRED FOLKS?

>> THERE IS.

TED: VERY GOOD.

>> IF YOU GO TO THE WEBSITE, YOU'LL CITY THERE AS WELL.

TED: PEACH KEEPS SHOWING HER REAR END TO THE CAMERA.

COME ON.

THERE SHE IS.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE CREATURE.

WHAT A CUTIE PIE.

RYAN, PEACH.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

TED: THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

- Hello, I'm Alice Ferris, and we hope you enjoyed "Arizona Horizon."

For more than 40 years, viewers in Arizona have relied on "Arizona Horizon" for in-depth coverage of issues of concern to our community.