NAF News

AG FOUNDATION 2007 MEETINGS

Developing agricultural crop varieties that will produce well on less water is the aim of the UNR College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources (CABNR) research that is partially being funded by the Nevada Agricultural Foundation (NAF). Reports on NAF 2007 grants to support this and other educational and research programs was provided at the recent Annual Meetings of NAF held late April in Reno.

"Wild fires this decade which still has three years to go have burned more Nevada acres than the three previous decades combined," said Annual NAF Banquet speaker John McLain, Range Management Consultant with Resource Concepts of Carson City, "and unless something is done the future could even be worse." The Banquet was the final activity of NAF's annual meetings that resulted in a total funding by the Foundation of $54,914 of which $41,500 went for Educational Awards or scholarships and $13,414 for grants for research, 4-H and the Nevada Junior Livestock Show Board. The Educational Awards were given to 21 Nevada high school graduates of this and previous years representing 11 of the State's counties. The awards ranged from $1,000 one year stipends to $3,000 a year for a four year scholarship. Recipients must major in agriculture or a closely associated field at Colleges or Universities. During the meetings, also, NAF elected officers for the ensuing year and appointed new Board members.

"The Governor along with the BLM, Forest Service and State natural resource agencies is working on a fire combatting plan with emphasis on fire pre-suppression using various means such as grazing by livestock including cattle, sheep and goats," McLain said. He explained that grazing along with other means could reduce fine fuels such as Cheat Grass on Nevada ranges which carry fire to more dense growth. Following his remarks he picked up his guitar to join the Rush Creek musical group headed by fiddler, Randy Pollard and with Charlie Edsell on base. The Band filled the air with mighty fine western, Hispanic and popular music. The 80 or so attending the event held in John Asquaga's Pool Side Terrace Room loved it.

The CABNR research to develop plants requiring less water will involve plant breeding or genetic engineering to create forage grasses or other crops beneficial to animals as feed or to humans. A forage grass, for example, will be planted and later water stressed (that is deprived of water) until complete dessication occurs. The grass then will be irrigated and the individual grass plants that recover or show greater drought resistance will be bred or engineered to produce a strain requiring less water. In an arid state like Nevada such plants would be highly valuable. NAF, too, provided funds to CABNR for research relative to controlling "Foothill Abortion," a long time problem for Nevada cattlemen contributing to significent economic loss in affected herds. A tick vector is the culprit and considerable past effort dating to the 1920's has been directed to developing a vaccine to combat the pathogen transmitted by the insects. So far there has been little success, however, this research using advancing technology may now enable scientists to produce an affective vaccine. Aside from these research projects, NAF provided grants to CABNR for an intern program to acquaint ag. studens with "hands on" ranching and farming practices, to 4-H and to provide March Landa Memorial funds to the Nevada Junior Livestock Show Board. Dr. David Thawley, CABNR Dean brought NAF up to date relative to the programs at the College important to Nevada Agriculture and the production of food.

Newly elected NAF officers for 2007 include Mike Compston of Smith Valley as President. He replaces Louis Test of Reno who will serve as Immediate Past President. Vice President is Pete Olsen of Fallon with Vern Heppner of Reno remaining as Treasurer. Sue Hoffman of Reno replaces Gail Munk of Lovelock as Executive Director/Secretary. Newly named Board Members include Dave Armstrong of Reno, Frank Bishop of Minden and Tom Cates of Reno. A brief biographical sketch on these officers plus other NAF Board of Director's members can be accessed on this website. Click on News on the Home Page. In the News article listings click on "Meet The People Of NAF (May 01, 2005)." THE 2,005 DATE MARKS THE TIME THE STORY WAS FIRST POSTED, HOWEVER THE ARTICLE HAS BEEN UPDATED TO 2007. The recent meetings, too, saw two long time NAF participants step down. This included Gail Munk who has handled NAF day to day affairs as Executive Director/Secretary since 2001 and Dave Mathis who has written all news stories on this web site plus handle other NAF PR duties since 1988.

Western pickin' and singing by the Rush Creek musical group entertained those attending the NAF 2007 Banquet at John Ascuaga's Nugget. Left to right John McLain on guitar, Band leader Randy Pollard on fiddle and Charlie Edsell on Base produced western, Hispanic and popular tunes that had the audience clapping and enjoying. McLain also presented information on current Nevada wild fires.

Recipients of NAF Eductional Awards attending the Banquet included (left to right) Amanda Vesco, Humboldt; Katerina Julian, Churchill; Ellen Trindle, Elko and Amy Beaupre, Storey. Alan List, Lovelock and Chairman of the NAF Educational Awards Selection Committee is on the far left with new NAF President Mike Compston right.

Attending the Banquet also were other scholarship recipients including (left to right) Caralina Julian, Churchill; Sarah Gee, Nye; Cristin Seppa, Douglas and Jackie Koster, also of Douglas. List and Compston flank the group.

The Poolside Terrace Room at the Nugget was the site of the Banquet attended by some 80 persons who loved the music and other aspects of the event.