At on May 31, the University will bring a variety of its research and work done throughout the state to its Valley Road Field Lab and Greenhouse Complex in Reno, where visitors will be treated to hands-on activities, wine tasting, a farm stand, a plant sale, demonstrations, giveaways, and tours and exhibits featuring University research. The University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources, with its and units, is hosting the event, 2 – 6 p.m., at the facility located at 1000 Valley Road.
The event will be buzzing with activities at more than 40 booths focusing on the latest advancements in agriculture, horticulture, nutrition, natural resources and the environment. A Main Stage will feature engaging presentations that include gardening basics, cooking and explanation of cuts of meat, and a K-9 police dog demonstration. The University’s student logging team, the Nevada Loggers, will also demonstrate the skills they compete in at logging sports competitions, including chopping, bucking and chainsaw events.
“This is a great time of year for people to visit the University’s Valley Road Field Lab,” said Bill Payne, dean of the College. “There will be a lot to do and see. We enjoy connecting with the community and demonstrating how what we do impacts our communities and the lives of Nevadans.”
The Field Lab is home to the Experiment Station’s , which will be selling its organic produce and plant starts at the event, as well as providing a demonstration on diversified hoop house production. In addition, the Initiative will show and tell about their programs focusing on climate-smart farming, food sovereignty, food security and agricultural industry support. The Initiative runs a commercial farm, including orchards, open fields, hoop houses and a greenhouse, and seeks to advance climate-smart farming and resilient food systems through demonstration, education, research and outreach.
The Valley Road Field Lab also hosts a variety of other research projects, and guided tours will be provided featuring:
- the modernized greenhouse facility and research activities, field plant research projects, farming equipment, specialized research machines and high-tech analytical instrumentation; and
- field crop research that is being conducted at the property, such as sorghum, wheat, soybeans, alfalfa, melons, cover crops varietal trials, native plants and more.
will also be on hand, selling meats produced at the University’s in southeast Reno. The facility provides USDA-inspected harvesting and processing services to local farmers, teaches students the latest in meat technology, and maintains its own herd to study ways to produce meat in greater quantities with higher quality.
An assortment of Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing’s limited edition wool products from the College’s Rafter 7 Merino sheep, raised in Eureka, Nevada, at the University’s , will also be on display and for sale. The sheep are world renown for their fine, soft wool. The Center in Eureka is a 622-acre ranch where the University addresses issues such as herd genetics and management, water conservation in cropping, and range management and restoration.
There will also be information on activities at the University’s Whittell Forest & Wildlife Area, a 2,650-acre forested mountain property in the Sierra Nevada serving as a living lab for research, instruction and community outreach.
For those 21 and over, there will be wine tasting, courtesy of a partnership among the College, its Experiment Station and the Nevada Grape Growers & Winemakers. The partnership seeks to support activities to promote the grape-growing and winemaking industries in Nevada and build upon decades of vineyard research at the College. The tasting of the University’s wines will feature two Rieslings, a white blend and two red blends. Commercial winemakers will also make their best vintages available for tasting at the event, showcasing Nevada grapes, and share information about this growing industry in the State.
The grapes for the two University Rieslings are from Lenox Vineyards in Silver Springs, Nevada. Award-winning Nevada Sunset Winery conducted all winemaking activities. At least 50% of the grapes in the blends were grown in Nevada with the remaining grapes sourced from California. The Extension Research Center & Demonstration Orchard in North Las Vegas contributes grapes to this partnership. The Center is part of University of Nevada, Las Vegas's Center for Urban Water Conservation, and has been a cooperative effort between Extension and UNLV for over 25 years, where hundreds of varieties of fruit trees, vines and other crops are tested for production in southern Nevada.
There will also information from the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program and demonstrations by Extension’s Mobile Harvest Unit, which provides workforce development opportunities in the food animal industries, as well education and services in livestock processing.
Other programs will provide information on a wide range of topics, from how to deal with common garden pests and use pesticides safely, to how insect hormones and sense of smell are being used to discover new, safer insecticides and management practices. Some health-related booths will provide information on topics such as how to make your home environment healthier, fitness and food for seniors, heart health, and dietary guidance for people with kidney disease.
For the kids, the will have a hands-on activity for youth to learn how to make slime and crayon suncatchers. There will also be information on Extension’s two camp facilities, plus some fun camp games. The Rethink Your Drink Nevada Program will be there with healthy drink recipes for children and information on reducing children’s intake of sugary drinks. The Veggies for Kids Program will share tips on increasing children’s consumption of vegetables and fruits. The Youth Horticulture Education Program will provide demonstrations on hydroponics, where children will observe how to grow plants without soil.
Nevada Field Day has been a College tradition for decades, and the University has been using the for agricultural research since around the turn of the century, when Washoe County realized the need for a dedicated space for agricultural research, purchased the land, and deeded it to the University. Today, with 27 acres designated for research and education, the property encompasses state-of-the-art research facilities, including the Greenhouse Complex, the Nevada Genomics Center and biofuels research facilities. Additional assets include eight high-tunnel hoop houses, an 18-acre equestrian facility and a fully equipped maintenance engineering shop.
Faculty and staff will be on hand at the property, which is a short walk from campus, to provide information on the College’s undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as programs offered by , noncredit professional development programs and industry-specific training programs.
Other organizations the College often collaborates with will also be participating in the Expo, including the Great Basin Fire Exchange, with information about wildland fire management challenges and how to address them; the Nevada Department of Wildlife, providing wildlife education activities; the Nevada Department of Agriculture, with “Moolissa,” the mechanical milking cow; and several organizations focused on pollinators.
Finally, Flavorwave will be selling Kona ice. Admission is free. For more information, call 775-784-6237. Persons in need of special accommodations or assistance should email Paul Lessick, civil rights and compliance coordinator or call him at 702-257-5577 at least five days prior to the scheduled event with their needs or for more information.
