Bighorn News: Conservation districts support FFA

Oasis FFA received donations from the Lahontan Conservation District and the Stillwater Conservation District. The two groups each donated $500 to support students traveling to the National FFA Convention.

“This year junior Hunter McNabb placed in the top 10 in the nation for Agriscience. He is the only Nevada student to qualify for Nationals in this area. This is a huge accomplishment. It will be wonderful to have Oasis and Fallon represented on the national stage,” said FFA Adviser Jackie Bogdanowicz.

According to Bogdanowicz, the donations will help Hunter and the other Oasis student attending the national convention.

“The agriculture community in Fallon continues to go above and beyond with their support of FFA and students,” she added.

JohnAnthony Hallberg

 Senior Spotlight: JohnAnthony Hallberg

Senior JohnAnthony Hallberg has been attending Oasis Academy since the school opened in 2011 as a first grader. He’ll finish his Oasis career in May with not only his high school diploma but also an Associate of Arts and Welding Certificate from Western Nevada College.

“I came to Oasis the first year it opened as a first grader,” Halberg said. “Throughout the years I've seen the school grow and expand with me as I’ve gotten older. Now that I'm in my last year as an Oasis student, not only have I grown as a person, but Oasis has grown with me from a single hallway in an old Walmart to a highly respected school with countless programs and opportunities available for its students.”

His longevity at Oasis also means he’s had very influential teachers at the school.

“I'd love to thank Mr. (Evan) Brandt for being one of the few teachers who has ever been able to explain math to me to where I’ve enjoyed it. My whole life I've struggled with math more than any other subject to the point of hating all math classes. But Mr. Brandt is one of the only teachers I've ever had who was able to explain things in such a way that not only did I learn and retain but I wanted to learn more. That's something I will always appreciate. His classes were always a good time and I'll always remember that.”

“Another teacher I’d love to give a huge thank you to is Mrs. Janet Renfroe. She was my eighth-grade homeroom teacher, and she always did her best to have a fun and engaging class. Not only was her patience through the roof with us but I remember whenever a student was looking sad or stressed, she would pull them aside when she had the chance and talk to them one on one about how they were doing and if they'd like to talk about anything. That extra care for the student's health is something I found truly admirable and showed me she truly cared for all of us.

“One major piece of advice I'd give to students is to enjoy your time while it lasts,” he said. “Go out with your friends on the weekends, joke around with the teachers when the times are appropriate, hold no grudges with your peers and remember the good times. High school doesn't last forever so enjoy today now.”

After graduation Hallberg plans to attend the University of Nevada, Reno and study criminal justice while being part of the ROTC program. His plan is to commission as an officer by 21 years old.

High Desert Feed brings food for school rabbits

George Pomeroy with High Desert Feed surprised Oasis rabbits Mello and Blu with hay and pellets. The rabbits have been part of the Oasis herd for almost a year now. Both Mello and Blu are housed in Mrs. Angela Viera’s room and are a treat for the students to come visit.

“Mello and Blu get a lot of visitors during the day. Students on break or recess will stop by to say hi and give them a snack. Teachers and administrators will also use the rabbits as both a reward for students and to help bring a smiling face to a child that needs a pick-me-up,” Viera said.

“We are extremely grateful for the generosity of Mr. Pomeroy and High Desert Feed for bringing food and pellets. It’s wonderful to have that kind of support from a local business. We have two very happy rabbits.”