NAF News

KNOWLEDGE BOUND

"What this country needs is a good famine," a University of Nevada Reno College of Agriculture faculty member once jokingly said but aimed at making a point. He was referring to what he perceived as an American public which seemed to take agriculture and food production for granted.

During the upcoming annual meeting of the Nevada Agricultural Foundation (NAF) Board of Directors to be held April 30 in Reno a new grant program will be announced. It will be implemented in the School Year of 2004-2005.

"The program's goal," said Gail Munk of Lovelock, NAF's Executive Director/Secretary, "is to create awareness and understandsing in school age youth and the public of agriculture's role in providing food, fiber, shelter and energy for today's consumers." The program called "Knowledge Bound" offers funding for two projects at approximately $3,000 each this first year. It is being offered to Cooperative Extension at UNR, to 4-H and FFA (Future Farmers of America), high school Vocational Agricultural Programs and to other agriculturally oriented youth organizations. Deadline to submit proposals for these grants is June 1, 2004. Application forms may be obtained by accessing this web site (www.nvagfoundation.org)and clicking on "Assistance" on the Main Menu. Go to "Research and Development Proposal Forms" at the bottom of the page. You will need Acrobat Reader to download the forms. Send applications to NAF Knowledge Bound, P.O.Box 780. Lovelock, Nevada 89419. If one does not have a computer he may obtain, application forms at this same address.

"What we're looking for," Munk said, "is innovative and original projects including site specific farm or ranch field days, workshops, demonstrations, etc.that will help those attending understand what goes into producing food and fiber including knowledge, energy, science, common sense, business acumen and other factors." - 30 -