Nevada Field Day is a free, fun, family-friendly event hosted annually by the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources. The event features hands-on exhibits, plant sales, wine and meat samplings, giveaways and games. This year’s celebration drew the young, the young at heart, the curious and the playful for a day of discovery and fun. Photo by Brin Reynolds.
Annual Nevada Field Day celebrates community, outreach and learning
Attendees enjoyed hands-on activities, tastings, plant sales and research in action
Nevada Field Day is a free, fun, family-friendly event hosted annually by the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources. The event features hands-on exhibits, plant sales, wine and meat samplings, giveaways and games. This year’s celebration drew the young, the young at heart, the curious and the playful for a day of discovery and fun. Photo by Brin Reynolds.
Nevada Field Day is a free, fun, family-friendly event hosted annually by the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources. The event features hands-on exhibits, plant sales, wine and meat samplings, giveaways and games. This year’s celebration drew the young, the young at heart, the curious and the playful for a day of discovery and fun. Photo by Brin Reynolds.
Attendees braved the 96-degree heat to enjoy hands-on activities, science demos, giveaways, tours and local food at the Experiment Station, where the event was held. Adults 21 and older sampled Nevada-grown wines from the Experiment Station’s Desert Farming Initiative, while visitors of all ages enjoyed meat tastings from Extension’s Meat Workforce Development Program, inflatable archery and a scavenger hunt to find for miniature Wolfies. Attendees also browsed plant sales, farm stands and many other booths showcasing University research and outreach.
A campus tradition for decades, Nevada Field Day reflects the University’s commitment to agricultural research. The Valley Road Field Lab has served as a hub of innovation since the early 1900s, when Washoe County deeded the land to the University. Today, the 27-acre site houses facilities including the Greenhouse Complex, Nevada Genomics Center, biofuels labs, hoop houses and the Equestrian Center, making it both a research hub and a space for the public to engage with science.
Who says grapes can’t grow in the desert? Guests 21 and over sampled red and white wines made from Nevada-grown grapes and bottled by Nevada producers. The University partners with Nevada Sunset Winery and Lenox Vineyards to produce its own branded wines, including a Riesling and a red blend. Grapes are sourced from Lenox Vineyards and the College’s Research Center & Demonstration Orchard in North Las Vegas. Photo by Brin Reynolds and Louise Ruskamp.“Eureka, I found it!” That was the exhilarating reaction from kids and adults who discovered hidden miniature Wolfies to win a prize. Nevada Field Day is a joyful space where curiosity thrives and discoveries are made. Photo by Brin Reynolds.“This is how we do it.” A professional meat cutter from Wolf Pack Meats, part of the University’s Experiment Station, demonstrates how to cut meat for a tender, juicy cooked result. Photo by Brin Reynolds.Andrew Nuss (left-standing), professor of insect physiology, agricultural science and molecular biology, wowed visitors with a 3D-printed skin model used to “feed” ticks and demonstrate public health research — no real blood required. Photo by Robert Moore.Nurturing knowledge and building awareness is the future of Nevada’s conservation. These young children learned about the role of bees in pollination and how to attract and preserve them to support conservation efforts. Photo by Brin Reynolds.I’ve got this! An attendee aims for the bullseye at Extension’s 4-H Youth Development booth. In addition to hands-on-learning, parents and children learned more about 4-H programs and camps available to Nevada youth this summer and throughout the year. Picture by Robert Moore. Guests enjoyed delicious samples made with Nevada-grown ingredients, showcasing the flavors and bounty of local agriculture. Photo by Robert Moore.John Cushman’s lab, known for research on drought-tolerant crops and desert plant biology, offered a vibrant selection of succulents for sale. His team studies how plants such as agave and cactus survive harsh conditions, with the goal of developing climate-resilient crops for Nevada and beyond. Photo by Robert Moore.Did you know that drinking a 12-ounce can of Coca-Cola is like eating 10 teaspoons of sugar? The Nutrition Department was on hand to teach about healthy drinks and to distribute recipes for nutritious beverages for individuals and families. Photo by Robert Moore.
