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Â鶹ӳ»­ our College

A founding college of the University, we have a long tradition of excellence in teaching, research and engagement programs that benefit the health and economic vitality of Â鶹ӳ»­. We offer programs in:

  • agriculture, horticulture, rangeland & veterinary sciences
  • biochemistry & molecular biology
  • children, youth & families
  • community & economic development
  • health & nutrition
  • natural resources & environmental science
 

Turning up the heat

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Professor Jeffrey Harper investigates pollen to help crops survive Â鶹ӳ»­'s heat

By Tiffany Kozsan

hands holding tweezers to camelina plantWith genetically altered pollen, commercial crops such as Camelina may have a longer growing season. Photo by Jeff Dow.

Jeff Harper
     Jeffrey Harper.

When exposed to warmer temperatures, pollen cells in plants break down and malfunction, causing the pollen to burst before it can be used for reproduction. This means pollination must occur before temperatures become too hot to produce crops, and with temperatures rising, that viable window is shrinking. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Professor Jeffrey Harper, with funding through the , is researching ways to alter genes to make pollen more heat-resistant. Harper is conducting trials on a model plant, Arabidopsis, a type of mustard that has a small genome that is easy to manipulate at the genetic level. Harper is learning which genes do what within the plant by using a gene-editing liquid called a CRISPR-Cas9, which makes an organism’s genes work more or less than normal and can remove or replace genes to get different results. His goal is to take what he learns from his research on the model plant and apply it to commercial crops such as Camelina (being studied for biofuel and as oil for human consumption), wheat, corn and rice.

Jeffrey's research could save agriculture

“By modifying the cells in a plant, we can make it do what we want and when we want to increase its heat tolerance."

Graduate of the Pack

Ana Nunez Zepeda '19, nutrition instructor & first-generation student

By Ashley Andrews

Ana Nunez Zepeda at boothAna Nunez Zepeda (center) runs an educational booth at Â鶹ӳ»­ Field Day, an annual College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources' community event. Photo by Ashley Andrews.

"What motives me to do what I do is contributing a little something to better the health of low-income families," Ana Nunez Zepeda said of her job as a community-based nutrition instructor with .

She began the job about four years ago.

As a Truckee Meadows Community College student, Ana was placed for a community internship with Cooperative Extension's nutrition department. After completing her internship, she continued with Cooperative Extension as an instructor.

Ana teaches nutrition programs to low-income families. A typical day at work has her preparing a lesson, grocery shopping for lesson supplies and then teaching a nutrition topic to families at five Reno Housing Authority sites.

"Teaching nutrition lessons to low-income families has a great social impact," Ana said. "It’s important that there are people doing what I do because we can help our community by teaching them how to have a healthy lifestyle."

Ana's story is life-changing

"I chose to go to college because I knew education is the key for bigger opportunities," she said. "And coming from a big family with no academic background, I knew I had to be the one starting a new future for my family."

Charles Schembre brings vineyard experience to Desert Farming Initiative

Experience in soil health and biodiversity will benefit the Experiment Station's research and programs

By Hannah Alfaro

Charles Schembre planting grapesCharles Schembre plants a new 1-acre demonstration vineyard to continue studying wine grapes. Photo by Robert Moore.

The welcomes a new project manager, Charles Schembre, to the . The Initiative is a diversified commercial farm at the University that serves as a demonstration, education, outreach and research farming program. It is a collaborative project of the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources and its Experiment Station and units.

Schembre joined the University in fall 2018, and in December, he attended a course so he and the Initiative’s staff could teach food safety best practices and began developing a technical assistance program to teach Â鶹ӳ»­ growers how to comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act. This past spring, Schembre oversaw the planting of a new, 1-acre demonstration vineyard of cabernet franc, merlot and malbec wine grapes at the University, expanding upon more than 20 years of wine grape research done at the Experiment Station focusing on techniques for advancing viticulture in the high desert. Schembre previously worked for the managing a demonstration vineyard and orchard, as well as multiple conservation programs focused on soil health, water conservation and biodiversity. He also served two terms in the .

In addition to researching grapes at the new vineyard, Schembre says the Initiative is conducting trials on vegetables and fruits, such as winter lettuce and raspberries, to collect crop data on different growing conditions.

“We collect data on 30 different varieties of vegetables we grow and also provide services, like organic plant propagation, to the local agriculture industry,” he said.

Schembre hopes to expand the farming operation to become a mid-sized farm that focuses on precision farming techniques. He also wants to create more teaching and learning opportunities for students at the Experiment Station, as well as expand the Initiative’s services to the community.

“I hope that with the expansion of the farming operation we can donate even more to the food pantry,” explained Schembre. “I also look forward to continuing to provide the latest research-based food safety information to our state’s producers, which is one of the Initiative’s primary focuses.”

Charles helps agriculture thrive

Learn more about upcoming Desert Farming Initiative workshops, opportunities to get involved and more.

4-H youth learn life skills through judging animals

By Carrie Stark

The Â鶹ӳ»­ State 4-H Livestock Contests were held June 29 in Lyon County.  Participants from Lyon, Churchill, Elko and Clark Counties competed in livestock judging and a skill-a-thon. These contests tested the students’ knowledge in conformation, quality assurance, production practices and the animal industry. Participating youth had to qualify in local contests to be eligible to participate in the state competition. The Senior Division state winners in both livestock judging and skill-a-thon will represent Â鶹ӳ»­ in the national contests in Denver and Louisville.

The process of judging animals has a positive impact on the development of workforce skills. It has been shown that youth who participate in judging activities and have an interest in the livestock industry gain necessary skills for their futures and their careers. One element of the contests is that youth must describe their ranking of the animals and defend their thought processes and decisions. This process helps participants become more proficient in reasoning and public speaking skills. It has been found that youth who participate in livestock judging/skill-a-thon contests are able to expand their critical thinking, decision-making and communication skills (Nash and Sant, 2005).

4-H youth judging sheep

Karlie S. and Kaitlin G., both from Churchill County, and Wade S. of Elko County judge a class of sheep as part of the Livestock Judging Contest. Photo by Lacey Sproul-Tom.

Girl looking closely at feed samples

Sami A., with Elko County, identifies feed samples in the State Livestock Skill-a-Thon. Photo by Carrie Stark.

three young 4-H'ers

Karlie S., Kortnie S. and Lauren G., from Churchill County, took first place in Junior Livestock Judging. Photo by Molly Pezzuto.

Boys looking closely at feed samples

Riley A. of Elko County, Colt S. of Lyon County and William B. of Elko County identify feed samples as part of the State Livestock Skill-a-Thon. Photo by Carrie Stark.

three older 4-H'ers

Randi P., Kieley M. and Wade S., from Elko County, took first place in Senior Livestock Judging. Photo by Molly Pezzuto.

Four older 4-H'ers

Allie P., William B., Mesa J. and Riley A., from Elko County, took first place in the Senior Livestock Skill-a-Thon. Photo by Molly Pezzuto.

Elko County participants included (kneeling row, left to right) Jade B, Mamie R., Caden P., William B. and Kiely M., (middle row, left to right) Mesa J., Ruby B., Millie B., Riley A., Allie P., (back row, left to right) Leanna S., Ella B., Randi P., Sami A. and Wade S. Photo by Molly Pezzuto.

Livestock Judging Winners:

  • First Place Junior Team: Churchill County (Karlie S., Kortnie S., Lauren G.)
  • Overall Individual Junior Division: Jade B. (Elko County) and Kortnie S. (Churchill County) Tie
  • First Place Intermediate Team: Elko County (Allie P., Riley A., Mesa J., William B.)
  • Overall Individual Intermediate Division: Riley A. (Elko County)
  • First Place Senior Team: Elko County (Randi P., Kieley M., Wade S.)
  • Overall Individual Senior Division: Kieley M. (Elko County)

Livestock Skill-a-Thon Winners:

  • First Place Junior Team: Churchill County (Karlie S., Kortnie S., Lauren G.)
  • Overall Individual Junior Division: Lauren G. (Churchill County)
  • First Place Intermediate Team: Elko County (Allie P., William B., Mesa J., Riley A.)
  • Overall Individual Intermediate Division: Mesa J. (Elko County)
  • First Place Senior Team: Elko County (Sami A., Randi P., Leanna S., Wade S.)
  • Overall Individual Senior Division: Sami A. (Elko County)

4-H youth learn leadership, citizenship and life skills at school, in local clubs and at camp

"4-H Camp is a gem that we treasure," said Cooperative Extension Director Ivory Lyles, "and that we know we must continue to maintain and update to benefit generations to come."

Making small businesses our business

Economic & Business Development Program partnerships help grow Â鶹ӳ»­ small businesses

By Tiffany Kozsan

woman teaching a classroom of adultsBusiness Development Instructor Reyna Mendez, with Cooperative Extension, teaches Spanish speakers about digital marketing at the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce. Photo by Juan Salas.

This March, Cooperative Extension’s Economic & Business Development Team launched a new program to provide educational resources and tools for small businesses.

According to the , businesses with fewer than 500 employees are considered “small businesses.” In Â鶹ӳ»­, 95 percent of businesses are small businesses, and the remaining 5 percent often collaborate with small businesses.

The program, operating in Cark County and run in partnership with state agencies and chambers of commerce in Las Vegas, aims to educate small-business owners by providing workshops on timely and relevant business topics to assist with managing and growing their businesses. The team has already provided 12 workshops, some in Spanish and some in English, on tax basics, digital marketing, entity taxes and Facebook. In addition, program instructors develop workshops and seminars based on feedback from the state agencies and chambers and from surveys of workshop attendees.

Partners of The Economic & Business Development Program include the , , , , and .

Get the tools to grow your business

Learn about upcoming workshops and seminars.

Growing a stronger Â鶹ӳ»­

Our programs work together to make an impact

Our teaching, research and engagement programs are intertwined and complement one another. Faculty who teach on campus also conduct research as part of the Experiment Station, allowing students to learn about and participate in research. Extension faculty engaging with communities identify research needs, as well as join Experiment Station faculty to conduct research. Faculty on campus help to develop Extension programs in communities.

Researching critical issues Â鶹ӳ»­ Agriculture Experiment Station faculty conduct research at experiment stations, labs and research facilities across the state, as well as teach classes and share and conduct research with students. The state-federal partnership tackles issues affecting Â鶹ӳ»­'s citizens, communities and economy.
student researcher with plants in greenhouse
Teaching University students We offer 17 undergraduate and graduate degrees to prepare students for high-paying, in-demand careers in agriculture, rangeland & veterinary sciences; biochemistry & molecular biology; natural resources & environmental science; and nutrition.
students taking notes in the field
Engaging Â鶹ӳ»­ communities University of Â鶹ӳ»­ Cooperative Extension is engaged in Â鶹ӳ»­ communities, presenting research-based knowledge to address critical community needs. The county-state-federal partnership provides practical education to people, businesses and communities, fulfilling the University's land-grant mission.
parents with children

Want to help grow Â鶹ӳ»­?

Consider making a contribution in support of classroom, lab or office space; graduate assistantships; student scholarships; or upgrades to Â鶹ӳ»­ 4-H Camp. To learn more, please contact Mitch Klaich '02, director of development, at 775-682-6490.