WNC News & Notes 9-27

Final day to see powwow at Lampe

There's still time to see this weekend's welcome powwow at Lampe Park in Gardnerville, featuring drum contests, dancing, singing, arts and crafts, and food booths. The grand entry will be at 1 p.m. today. Master of ceremonies is Rocco Clark Sr. of Yakima, Wash. Arena director is Michael Keats Sr. Head woman is Francine Tahonnie, host drum is Echo Sky with host drum/head singer WaKanWaci Blindman from Wadsworth. Head man is Rocco Clark Jr. from Toppenish, Wash.

Sponsors include the Washo Tribal Health Clinic/Community Health, Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada Domestic Violence Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the Western Nevada College Office of Student Life.

Specialty Crop Institute plants seeds

A new agricultural industry may spring up in Nevada, thanks to the pioneering spirit of area farmers and the efforts of Western Nevada College to bring high-value, low-water use crops to an arid state. Through the WNC Specialty Crop Institute, a joint project between the college and the Nevada Department of Agriculture, a series of workshops over the past year attracted hundreds of people to tour farms and learn about growing crops in a high desert climate. Workshops on organic farming, cut flowers, lavender farms, and grape growing for wine production were part of the first year successes.

Dean Bus Scharmann of the WNC Fallon campus has been the guiding force behind the seminars. He said interest for more seminars was so great the institute has committed to providing additional viticulture workshops next year.

"For many years I have discussed with local wine industry leaders the role that the college could play in furthering their cause. I believe we have found it through the Specialty Crop Institute, and I am very pleased that Western Nevada College can assist in the education of current and emerging viticulture farmers."

One Nevadan who has already taken the plunge is Fallon farmer Charlie Frey, who dreams of the time when the Silver State's byways will be dotted with vineyards, wineries, bed and breakfasts, and carloads of visitors to Nevada wine country.

Frey owns one of three wineries in Nevada and co-hosted a recent viticulture workshop.

The final seminar of the year, "Extending the Growing Season with Hoop Houses," will be at WNC Fallon on Nov. 13 and 14.

Waterfall Fire effects focus of talk

The public is invited to the Carson City Library at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 for a 30-minute presentation on the Waterfall Fire Interpretive Trail by WNC Chemistry Professor Mike Sady, followed at 1 p.m. by a narrated walk along the trail west of the WNC Carson City campus. Sady has studied the changes in the landscape since the fire five years ago, and has insights on the firefighting efforts, re-seeding and effects of climate change on plant life.

The interpretive trail begins at the Jack C. Davis Observatory on the northwestern edge of the campus; the entire trail walk should take about 90 minutes. The trail contains eight study sites, with three plots that compare and contrast the Waterfall Fire rehabilitation treatments, and subsequent effect on the landscape. Its purpose is to provide an outdoor science classroom experience for students at WNC, local schools, and community groups.

For more information, contact Mike Sady at 445-4000 or mbsady@wnc

.edu.