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

Nevada Field Day provides hands-on activities and demonstrations

University experts showcase research, activities and programs at fall festival

Claudene Wharton

Nevada Field Day on Oct. 19 features education and fun for people of all ages. Photo by Robert Moore.

At Nevada Field Day on Oct. 19, visitors will be treated to a variety of free activities and giveaways, and even some tasty food samples, courtesy of the University of Nevada, Reno and its College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources.

As part of this year’s activities, acclaimed local food advocate and Chef Clint Jolly will be performing a cooking demonstration at 11 a.m. with produce from the University’s Desert Farming Initiative and meat from the University’s Wolf Pack Meats. Jolly is a former winner of Food Network’s Chopped: Impossible Restaurant Challenge, and is currently a meat and seafood specialist with Sysco Foodservice.

Nevada Field Day features hands-on activities and information focusing on the latest advancements in agriculture, horticulture, nutrition, natural resources and the environment. It will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the University’s Main Station Field Lab, 5895 Clean Water Way in Reno, near the intersection of McCarran Boulevard and Mill Street. It is a collaborative project of the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources; and its research and outreach units, the Experiment Station and University of Nevada, Reno Extension.

Agriculture student recognized for time and effort spent promoting the beef industry

Elisabeth Watkins becomes San Joaquin-Stanislaus CattleWomen's youngest CowBelle of the year

Molly Watkins, San Joaquin-Stanislaus Cattlewomen

The San Joaquin-Stanislaus CattleWomen selected Elisabeth Watkins as the 2019 CowBelle of the year during their September meeting. She was given an engraved cowbell and a sterling silver pendant to celebrate her hard work. The award singles out an outstanding member who dedicates a significant amount of time and effort to promote the beef industry.

Watkins is a seven-year junior member of the San Joaquin-Stanislaus CattleWomen and is just 18 years old. Although she has never served as an officer, she has been on almost all of the committees. Watkins learned to appreciate food growing up on a sixth-generation family ranch and farm in Linden and acquired culinary skills through 4-H. She has a small herd of purebred Shorthorn cattle. She is also the winner of Food Network’s Chopped Junior in 2015. She is now a freshman at the University of Nevada, Reno where she is studying agriculture.

As a CattleWoman, Watkins has taught students about agriculture, beef, cattle and how to cook with beef. She has traveled to San Francisco, Sacramento, Tulare, Oahu and all around San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties, engaging children and adults in conservation about where their food comes from. She was the California Ag in the Classroom Beef Recipe Winner with a trip-tip nacho recipe that she developed.

Watkins and 31 other 2019 CowBelles throughout California will gather for a recognition luncheon during the California CattleWomen’s State Convention in Reno, Nevada in early December.  There are about 1,800 CattleWomen in California and the San Joaquin-Stanislaus CattleWomen’s Unit has 48 members and is 67 years old.

Photo Gallery | Youth compete at Nevada 4-H Expo

University of Nevada, Reno Extension brings back State Expo after hiatus

At the Nevada 4-H Expo, held Oct. 3-6 at the Winnemucca Events Complex in Winnemucca, 179 youth showed and competed in several categories, including raising and showing various animals, communications, photography, food science and nutrition, robotics, computer science, and many more categories. According to organizers, this once-annual event in Nevada has been sorely missed in its absence for several years.

To find out more about local 4-H activities and clubs, as well as National 4-H Week activities and the Nevada 4-H Expo Competition, contact your county’s Extension office.

Hannah Alfaro

Williams plans to continue research on wildlife management in Nevada while teaching at University. Photo by Robert Moore.

University of Nevada, Reno welcomes Perry Williams as a new assistant professor in the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources.

Williams concentrates his research on statistical and mathematical methods for estimating population processes to improve wildlife management and conservation. He has received grants from the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for his research on sea otters in southeast Alaska, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for research on common raven movement and habitat use.

Before he arrived at the University, he worked with wildlife in Alaska, studying various species and researching wildlife management conservation. He plans to perform similar research here at the University, as well as start investigating the wildlife conservation of sage grouse in Nevada, and waterfowl in the Suisun Marsh, California.

Hannah Alfaro

Attendees should prepare to dress for all types of weather during the three tree walks. Photo by William Kositzky, Master Gardener volunteer.

To help arborists, landscapers and others hone their tree identification skills, University of Nevada, Reno Extension is offering an Introduction to Tree ID: A Seasonal Guide. This series is tailored to teach about identification for specific seasons.

During this four-part series, Certified Arborist Wendy Hanson Mazet will discuss the fundamentals of tree identification in a classroom setting for one hour, and Certified Arborist Rod Haulenbeek will then follow up with a two-hour fall tree ID walk. Two other tree ID walks will follow in winter and spring, each one including season-specific information. Attendees are encouraged to bring a clipboard, pen or pencil, walking shoes and bottles of water.