Conference gathers agriculture producers and others to share knowledge and expertise

LAS VEGAS – To help provide education and support for Nevada’s agriculture producers, associated businesses and others, University of Nevada, Reno Extension is partnering with other organizations to host the Nevada Small Farms Conference in Sparks at the Nugget Casino Resort, Feb. 20-22.

“Extension is very excited to be able to offer educational opportunities to farm producers and others, to provide them with the latest research and information on resources to help them be successful,” Staci Emm, Extension educator, said. “We realize that our local food systems are extremely important to our communities and want to facilitate long-term sustainability.”

According to Emm, smaller operations sometimes have a more difficult time marketing their products and networking, since their base is rural, but this conference provides an opportunity for those with smaller operations to share information about available resources and meet with other industry professionals, as well as to hear presentations on a variety of topics to help them maintain profitable and sustainable operations. Current and new farm owners, local food advocates, chefs, farmers market managers, FFA members and other agricultural stakeholders are encouraged to attend.

The first day (Thursday) will provide a variety of preconference workshops, and the next two days will offer a series of workshops, presentations and networking events. On Friday, keynote speaker Cody Witt, owner and manager of Full Circle Compost, will talk about his family’s legacy in agriculture in northern Nevada. From a fifth-generation dairy farm to Nevada’s largest composting company, the Witt family has pioneered and adapted to a changing agricultural landscape, focusing on regenerative agriculture and soil health. Also on Friday, Extension professionals will offer a breakout session on preventing and navigating foreign animal disease outbreaks, and farmer Ray Johnson will present a hands-on workshop about seedlings and transplanting. A complete schedule of workshops and breakout session topics for the three-day event is available online.  

Register online for the conference for $75, which includes all workshops and presentations, networking events, and breakfast pastries and lunches on Friday and Saturday. The conference is made possible by funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency and other partners. For more information, contact Kaley Chapin at [email protected] or 702-467-2668. See Extension’s Risk Management Education Program website for more information on other agriculture conferences and resources available for agricultural producers.

Persons in need of special accommodations or assistance should contact Paul Lessick, civil rights and compliance coordinator, at [email protected] or 702-257-5577 at least five days prior to the scheduled event with their needs or for more information.