Western Nevada College News & Notes 6-21

WNC Specialty Crop Institute embraces harvest season

As harvest time approaches on western Nevada farms, Western Nevada College's Specialty Crop Institute is heading for the fields. Three upcoming workshops will focus on growing lavender, nursery stock and herbs, and wine grapes.

The daylong seminars combine farm visits and classroom learning to provide hands-on instruction on growing and harvesting methods, water efficiency and selling specialty crops that will be successful in our high desert environment.

Upcoming Seminars:

• "Lavender Harvest - Marketing and Adding Value to Your Farm" - Wednesday, July 22; 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Lavender Ridge Farm, Reno.

This daylong seminar will include a tour of the lavender field and distillation process. The aromatic lavender shrub is used in the fragrance, specialty food and alternative medicine industries. Speakers will discuss marketing and sales opportunities. Cost: $30/$25 if registered by July 19. Includes lunch.

• "Nursery Stock, Herbs and Produce - Harvesting for Markets" - Friday, Aug. 14; 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Fallon.

A daylong seminar combines a classroom session at WNC Fallon campus with a field trip to Nanadew Herb Farm. Students will discuss drip irrigation methods in the classroom session and tour greenhouses and fields at the herb farm. Cost: $30/$25 if registered by Aug. 11. Includes lunch.

• "Wine Grape Growing & Harvesting" - Thursday, Sept. 10; 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Churchill Vineyards, Fallon. Students will tour the vineyards where grapes will be at or near harvest. Discussion topics include harvesting for peak flavor and production, frost protection, and techniques for growing grapes in cool climates. Cost: $30/$25 if registered by Sept. 7. Includes lunch.

Register by contacting Ginny Dugan at 775-423-5186 in Fallon or via e-mail at dugan@wnc.edu. Information is available from Ann Louhela, 775-351-2551, e-mail louhelaa

@wnc.edu. Information is also available at the WNC Specialty Crop Institute Web site: www.wnc.edu/sci.

Fall class schedule hits the streets

Western Nevada College fall class schedules are arriving in residential mailboxes throughout the area this week.

WNC will offer nearly 1,000 fall classes ranging from accounting to woodworking and just about everything in between. Courses range from traditional college courses in English, math, history and science to dozens of specialized technology and skills courses needed for a career.

For those who want to make themselves more job-worthy and recession-proof, there are career-enhancing classes, including nursing, teacher education, criminal justice, graphic design, auto repair, electronics, workplace time management and goal setting. There are specialized classes on resolving customer complaints, as well as computer classes on spreadsheets and database management. Other computer classes include Linux installation and configuration, Excel, CISCO Internetworking and geographic information systems.

Registration is ongoing for fall classes that begin Monday, Aug. 31. Log on to www.wnc.edu and click on Web-REG, then follow the instructions.

Police Academy Students Make Annual 'Pride Run'

Now that they have completed 23 of the 30 weeks of their Peace Officer Standards and Training course, Western Nevada College's 21 police cadets have an even greater understanding of what commitment to a career in law enforcement means. On Saturday, the cadets completed their annual five-mile Pride Run from the college to the Law Enforcement Memorial on the Nevada Capitol grounds.

Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong was scheduled to speak to the cadets at the memorial. Most of the students are just a few short weeks away from completing their program and joining law enforcement agencies in Nevada.