Community news briefs for week of March 4

Nevada Small Agriculture Conference – Fallon

The Nevada Small Agriculture Conference is March 13-15 at the 3C Event Complex. According to Extension educator Staci Emm, smaller operations sometimes have a more difficult time marketing their products and networking since their base is rural, but this conference provides an opportunity for those with smaller operations to share information about available resources and meet with other industry professionals.

Current and new farm owners, local food advocates, chefs, farmers market managers, FFA members and other agricultural stakeholders are encouraged to attend.

Registration for all three days of the conference is $150, and includes all sessions, an opening reception, lunches and the tradeshow. Similar to the Urban Agriculture Conference, this conference opens on Wednesday with the regenerative or meat-processing track options, followed by lunch and the opening reception.

Tickets for this day only are $55.

Thursday and Friday sessions are geared more toward small-production and rural producers, and feature presenters from the university, including its Extension and Experiment Station units and the Desert Farming Initiative, as well as many others sharing their agriculture and business expertise. An optional grow-local dinner will be offered on Thursday at 6 p.m. for $60.

Register online by March 5. Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged. For information, contact Kaley Chapin at kaleys@unr.edu or 702-467-2668.

Churchill County Republicans

Tickets have gone on sale for the 2024 Lincoln Day dinner March 16 which will feature Gov. Joe Lombardo as the keynote speaker.

The dinner will be held at the Fallon Convention Center. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the dinner and program begin at 7 p.m.

Gary Smith, chairman of the Churchill County Republican Central Committee, said he must notify the caterers by March 11 with a headcount. Tickets are available on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/churchill-republican-party-2024-lincoln-day-dinner-tickets-827693592817?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Tickets are $75 each.

The evening will also have a silent and live auctions, and the Lincoln Highway Band from Fallon will play during the cocktail hour.

Smith said the CCRCC will have a Washington, D.C., update from U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei. The Carson City native, who represents Congressional District 2 in Northern Nevada, has served in the House of Representatives since 2011.

Smith said local Republicans also will be in attendance.

Pennington Life Center

Check out all the offerings at https://nvchurchillcounty2.civicplus.com.

Plenty of good eats at the Pennington Life Center: All are welcome to partake. Lunch served 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekdays. Cost is $6 for those under age 60 and a suggested donation of $3 for those 60 and older.

Rotary Club of Fallon

Rotary meets every Tuesday at noon at the Stockman’s Steakhouse. Each meeting usually has a speaker. Guests are welcome.

New museum hours

The Churchill County Museum is resuming normal operating hours, which means the museum is now open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.

Churchill County Library

See what the Churchill County Library is offering in March and dive into a variety of events and programming.

Special events:

Spice Club in March examines the sweet, floral spice new harvest turmeric that grows in southern India. Pick up some at the library desk and share your culinary creations on social media and tag the library!

Sen. Jacky Rosen’s office representative will be at the library on March 14 at 1 p.m. for “office hours.”

Reading with Rover also takes place on March 14 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Children read books to dogs to improve their reading skills and confidence to a decidedly captive audience.

Looking for work? Let EmployNV help you with aspects of finding a new job on March 7 and 21 at 2 p.m. at the library.

Elementary Book Club meets March 29 in the Library Annex at 3 p.m. for those in elementary school. March’s book is “Unseen Magic” by Emily Lloyd-Jones and it can be reserved to take home at: bit.ly/CCLElementaryBookClub

Book discussion group for adults continues on March 28 at 6 p.m. in the library annex. This month’s topic is “women’s history,” and you are encouraged to bring your favorite read to discuss and share with others. Light refreshments served.

NRCS financial and technical assistance

The U.S Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is offering financial and technical assistance to help agricultural producers apply conservation practices through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Agricultural Management Assistance Program.

Approximately $17 million is available to producers through EQIP and AMA.

Applications for EQIP and AMA must be received by the local field office before 4 p.m. on March 29. Eligibility for applications will be determined by April 26 and money will be obligated by June 14.

To learn more about EQIP and AMA, or for general information about NRCS programs, contact your local NRCS office. Office locations can be found by going to https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/conservation-by-state/nevada and selecting the Nevada Service Center Map.

USDA funding

Funding is available from USDA Rural Development Nevada for nonprofits, tribes, colleges and universities to create revolving loan fund programs and support training and technical assistance for rural microentrepreneurs and microenterprises.

Application deadlines are March 31 and June 30. For information or to apply contact 775- 443-4756.