Growing Nevada

About 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 Nevada. We offer programs in:

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

Mapping the road to success

4-H Where Wolves attend National GIS Conference

By Ian McMurray, Where Wolves 4-H GIS/GPS Club member

From left: Where Wolves 4-H GIS/GPS Club members Kody Burris, Abby Dreyfus and Ian McMurray, with Club Advisor Doyle Raines, show a map that they made of Moapa Valley. The map was displayed at the Environmental Systems Research Institute Users Conference in July.

Three members of the [Moapa Valley] Where Wolves 4-H Club, along with three of their leaders, were recently selected to represent the state of Nevada as part of the National 4-H GIS Team at the annual Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) conference held in San Diego.

The National team was made up of 12 youth and 11 leaders from across the United States. Local 4-H team members Abby Dreyfus, Kody Burris and Iain McMurray were selected through an interview and application process. The teens worked hard for months to prepare displays for the conference, with the help of their club advisors Doyle and Peggy Raines. National team members were the only youth allowed to attend the prestigious conference alongside over 17,000 adult attendees that came from all over the world.

University offers agricultural crop research tours at Fallon Field Day

Research being done on drought-tolerant and salt-tolerant crops

By Tiffany Kozsan

Agriculture producers and others were invited to get a first-hand look at crop trials and research being conducted in northern Nevada by the University of Nevada, Reno’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources. Field Day in Fallon was free and open to the public, and took place 9-11 a.m., Aug. 13, at the College’s Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station Newlands Research Center at 2053 Schurz Highway.

 “The limited amount of water available for crop production is posing challenges for long-term sustainability,” said Maninder K. Walia, field crop specialist with University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, also part of the College. “So we are testing new crops to reduce Nevada’s water use.”

Molly Flagg Knudtsen | Her story is College history

Cattle rancher, historical preservation advocate, educator, 1915-2001

By Tiffany Kozsan

Molly Flagg Knudtsen was named Outstanding Agriculturalist of the Year by the College in 1973. The College’s Knudtsen Resource Center, named after her, turns 100 this year.

The College’s Knudtsen Resource Center, located at 1000 Valley Road in Reno, turned 100 this year. Below are some highlights of the life and contributions of Molly Flagg Knudtsen, after whom the building was named.

• Born in New York City in 1915 to a wealthy family, she was privately schooled and took riding lessons
• Attended University of London’s King’s College in England
• Came to Nevada in 1941 to obtain a divorce from Robert Pinkerton Gibb
• Married Richard Magee in 1942 and moved to his ranch in Grass Valley in Lander County
• Learned about bovine psychology and how to register purebred Hereford cattle, which had been developed by the University of Nevada, Reno’s College of Agriculture and purchased by Magee
• Published historic articles in “Vogue,” “Family Circle,” the “Rees River Reville” newspaper and various archeology magazines
• Became a trustee of the Nevada State Museum due to her work with mapping archeological sites and collecting and documenting artifacts around Nevada
• In 1960, became the first woman to run for and be elected to the University of Nevada Board of Regents
• Helped expand the College of Agriculture and establish the University of Nevada Press, the University’s Department of Anthropology and the community college system
• Bought the Grass Valley ranch from Magee in 1968 when Magee moved to California
• Divorced from Magee and married Bill Knudtsen in 1969
• Expanded the Grass Valley Ranch to 9,000 acres and improved and preserved the lineage of both the purebred herd and a commercial herd
• Named Outstanding Agriculturalist of the Year in 1973 by the College
• Awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science degree in archeology-anthropology by the University in 1975
• Published “Cow Sense” in 1977 through the University of Nevada Press
• Served on the Bureau of Land Management advisory boards and as an advisor for the College
• Named a Distinguished Nevadan by the University in 1994

More information on Molly Flagg Knudtsen can be found at nevadawomen.org or by reading her biographical sketch by Don D. Fowler in “The Maverik Spirit: Building the New Nevada,” edited by Richard O. Davies.

By Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada

Smith Creek Ranch, a Carson City District permittee, hosted a gathering of agencies, partners and researchers to talk about the efforts that they are putting in to make the ranch sustainable and successful for the future. Sam Lossing, cattle manager, and Ray Hendrix, owner/operator, helped organize a two-day event with over 50 attendees. The goal was to share with other permittees and agencies what can happen when working together with agencies and the positive resource management outcomes with interested partners.

The group toured various sites of the Smith Creek allotment that have research and monitoring projects from the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources; Nevada Department of Wildlife; Bureau of Land Management Nevada; Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS); and  Nevada Department of Agriculture, to name a few.

Removal of pinyon juniper trees for wildlife habitat, stream and watershed monitoring, and meadow exclosures are just some of the projects taking place year-round on the allotment. The ranch is also a part of the BLM Outcome-Based Grazing demonstration projects.

By Hannah Alfaro

David St-Jules will continue to develop research on renal disease, as well as mentor graduate students.

University of Nevada, Reno is excited to welcome David St-Jules to the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources. He is a registered dietitian and nutritionist, and his research focuses on renal disease, which is the final and most severe stage of chronic kidney disease.

St-Jules’ decision to focus on this disease came from his interest in obesity-related chronic diseases, which are currently major concerns of the population. Renal disease is understudied and has not received as much attention from the medical community as diseases such as diabetes, even though 15 percent of U.S. adults are diagnosed with it.

“I’m excited to be transferring to the University since it has an established dietetics program with a good reputation that I know will support my research,” said St-Jules. “The school has a great environment, and I’m excited to get to know the faculty and staff there.”

St-Jules completed two postdoctoral fellowships at Harvard School of Public Health and the New York University School of Medicine for Nutrition. He now plans to continue his research into renal disease and build the evidence base for treatment.

Immediate plans include studying the role of registered dietitians in medical nutrition therapy and the use of technology in the treatment of pre-dialysis patients. He also aims to perform basic research on plant-based diets and their effectiveness in treating individuals with chronic kidney diseases. St-Jules looks forward to using his experience as a nutritionist to mentor graduate students who are interested in nutrition research.

"We’re excited to be bringing a national leader in renal disease to this institution,” said Jamie Benedict, chair of the College’s Department of Nutrition. “Dr. St-Jules is going to complement the strengths of our current faculty and help to enhance the research, teaching and outreach efforts of the Department of Nutrition.