NAF News

30 YEARS OF NAF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE

The Nevada Agricultural Foundation (NAF), as it has been doing for 30 years, provided financial assistance to 22 young and bright Nevada youth intending to pursue a higher education in agricultural or closely associated curriculums. The awards were announced during NAF's annual May 2006 meetings in Reno. $46,500 was provided these youth in Educational Assistance Awards while another $15,165 was added in grants going to 4-H, the Nevada Junior Livestock Show Board and for UNR College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources (CABNR) research. Total amounted to $61,665. The Nevada High School graduates came from 11 counties in the State with most, seven, representing Elko County. Included in the Educational Award recipients were nine new applicants or 2006 high school graduates, six re-applications, and seven carryovers or those on four year scholarships. Grants ranged from $1,000 one year stipends to $3,000 a year for a four year award.

Don Henderson, Director of The Nevada State Department of Agriculture, brought NAF up to date on CABNR's "Master Plan" concerning the College's research facilities. He is a member of a special sub-committee of CABNR's Citizens Advisory Board that is developing the plan. There has been considerable interest recently relative to the Experiment Stations role in CABNR's functioning , especially the Main Station Farm in Reno. NAF has been concerned and invited Henderson's to report at the May meetings.

Henderson said the master plan recommends all current properties be maintained by CABNR with the exception of the J. Dow Wetlands located in the Honey Lake Basin north of Reno. The Main Station experiment facility in Reno is deemed particularly valuable due to its proximity to the University. "We had to consider current and future anticipated agricultural and food production needs. Human populations will continue growing. It is more important than ever that agricultural science and technology keeps pace." Along with the Main Station considered as the hub of research activity CABNR has Experiment Stations in Fallon, at the S-S Ranch north of Wadsworth, The Gund Ranch in Central Nevada and at Pahrump and Logandale in Southern Nevada.

A fiddling good time including toe tapping, clapping and cowboy ki-i-ing marked crowd enthusiasm at this year's Annual Banqet held at John Asquaga's Nugget. It was a major departure from past banquets. Guests speakers have been previous draws but this year It was the Quebe Sisters Band from Burleson, Texas. The sisters, Grace 19, Sophia 18, and Hulda 15 are all State and National winners in fiddling contests. Backed by a guitar and a base they played and sang cowboy, western and Big Band selections. It was the kind of music those attending enjoy. Among selections were some old Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys numbers, that great old Texas song "San Antonio Rose," Sons of The Pioneers "Tumbling Tumble Weeds" and, as a final, Benny Goodman's jazzy "Avalon." They received a standing ovation. The girls said they had an upcoming engagement at Wahington D.C.'s Kennedy Center. A poignent moment occurred when a minute of silence was held to honor the passing of Dr. Dale W. Bohmont a former Dean of the UNR College of Agriculture and a NAF founder. (See a news story about Bohmont on this website.) Allen List of Lovelock, Chairman of the Educational Awards Selection Committee, noted scholarship recipients attending the Banquet, asked them to stand and introduced them.

Impact on Nevada public lands and private pastures either from natural factors such as weather or from grazing or browsing by domestic and wild animals can only be ascertained by rangeland monitoring protocols. Dr. Paul Tueller, retired UNR Ag. College Range Scientist reported at the meeting on monitoring research he has done. His work has been supported by NAF grants of $4,100. "There is a lack of good rangeland monitoring data relative to public lands in Nevada," said Tueller, "with decisions being made all the time about the State's ranges regarding livestock, wildlife, wild horses and other aspects of land use including vegetation and soil characteristics." His work has been aimed at updating the Nevada Rangelands Monitoring Handbook published in 1984. He reported work is now complete and the update is ready for printing. Also nearing completion is a Ranchers Guide to Rangeland Monitoring. Both guides are designed to produce sound data on range conditions and trend that can stand up to scrutiny. The Rangeland Monitoring Handbook is for use by State and Federal land management agencies such as the BLM and U.S. Forest Service. Tueller said the ideal would be for all involved on the rangelands, ranchers included, to follow a standard approach but that this is not likely to happen.

Dr. Kynda Curtis, CABNR Assistant Professor in Resource Economics reported that a team of students studying Agribusiness Marketing bested other universities at the recent Western Collegiate Food Marketing Competition held in Pomona, California. The Nevada team won top honors. They presented a marketing plan for "Flavored Gourmet Beef Patties) created by research at the CABNR Meats Lab in Reno and marketed under the name of "Wolf Pack Meats." NAF contributed to financing the students.

Mark Elston of Wachovia Securities and Vern Heppner, NAF Treasurer reviewed NAF's financial status, calling it favorable. NAF during the meeting elected officers to serve the 2006-07 term. Louie Test, Reno Attorney, was re-elected as President as were Mike Compston of Smith Valley as Vice President; Vern Heppner of Reno as Treasurer; and Gail Munk of Lovelock as Executive Director/Secretary. Tom Barnes, Elko Rancher, remains as Immediate Past President. One new member, Joe Guild, Reno Attorney, was added to the NAF Board of Directors to replace Rita Stitzel, Elko Rancher. Dick McDougal of Lovelock, a former NAF President, was also listed on the Board.

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NAF supporters fill the Poolside Terrace room at John Asquaga's Nugget for this year's Annual Banquet. Those attending were informed about actions taken at NAF's Annual meetings including the awarding of $61,665 in Educational Awards and other grants. A moment of silence was held in honor of Dr. Dale W. Bohmont who passed away earlier. He was a former Dean and Director of the UNR College of Agriculture and a founder of NAF.

Superb fiddling made for toe tapping, clapping and cowboy "ki-i-ing" was provided at the Banquet by the Quebe Sisters Band of Burleson, Texas. The three (left to right) are Sophia, Hulda and Grace. All three are State and National fiddling Champions and backed by a guitar and base played and sang Country Western, cowboy and big band numbers. The audience loved it.

Flanked by Allen List of Lovelock, Chairman of NAF's Educational Awards selection Committee (left) and NAF President, Louie Test of Reno 2006 Ed. Award recipients at the Banquet included (left to right) Amanda Vesco, Winnemucca; Ellen Trindle, Elko; Jessica Lorenz, Battle Mountain and Ashlee Mendive, Spring Creek.

List and Test also welcomed recipients (left to right) Kyle Martinez and Ryan Bertucci of Douglas County and Emily Brough of Wells.