Beginning Farmer & Rancher

Staci Emm

Professor – Extension - Reno, NV

Staci Emm is a Professor with the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, and leads the Nevada Food Business Center project under the Southwest Business Center. Staci has over 20 years’ experience developing and teaching agricultural programming in Nevada: she created the Nevada Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program called "Herds & Harvest", co-created the Nevada Risk Management Education program, and expanded Nevada Extension tribal programs. She is experienced in business management and entrepreneurship, marketing, Indian land tenure, agricultural water rights, and land-use planning. Areas of expertise include business planning and feasibility, and financial management.

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Kaley Chapin

Lead Coordinator

Kaley Chapin serves as a lead Program Coordinator. She joined extension as an Outreach Specialist for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program and Risk Management Education Programs at Extension. With a strong background in agriculture and cattle production, and a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Agricultural Education, Kaley brings both expertise and passion to her work supporting agricultural communities. As the lead Program Coordinator for statewide agricultural courses and certifications, she plays a key role in developing and delivering educational opportunities for both small- and large-scale producers, with a focus on small acreage management and farm-to-fork production. In addition, she contributes to major programs such as the Cattlemen’s Update and the meat and poultry programs. Prior to joining Extension, Kaley served for five years as the Executive Director of the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association, where she gained extensive experience and insight into the cattle industry. Her work continues to reflect her deep commitment to the success and sustainability of farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers across the state.

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Lindsay M Chichester

4-H Program Leader and Associate Professor - Extension - Reno, NV

Lindsay Chichester is the State 4-H Program Leader for Nevada and an Associate Professor with the University of Nevada, Reno Extension. She earned an M.A. in speech with an emphasis in crisis communication, an M.A. in animal science, and a Ph.D. in Systems Agriculture with an emphasis in meat science. Lindsay has worked in Extension for 14 years, with expertise in animal well-being, agriculture systems, meat science and consumerism, beekeeping, and youth development.

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Gary McCuin

Eureka County Agricultural & Natural Resource Educator, UNR

Gary McCuin is an Extension Educator with the University of Nevada, Reno Extension and specializes in rangeland management, livestock production, and natural resource conservation. Based in Eureka County, Gary works with ranchers, agency personnel, and land managers to improve the sustainability and productivity of Nevada’s rangeland systems. He has extensive experience in livestock grazing management, federal land policy, vegetation monitoring, and wild horse and burro management. His programming supports the application of science-based practices to optimize livestock production while protecting ecological health across Nevada’s vast public and private rangelands. Gary’s work also includes advancing collaborative solutions to land-use challenges and providing education on rangeland ecology and grazing systems to both producers and public stakeholders.

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Austin Yohey

Butcher/Trainer - Extension

Austin Yohey is a Butcher and Trainer with the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, currently supporting operations for the Mobile Harvest Unit (MHU) under the Nevada Food Business Center. Austin began his career with the university in 2014 at Wolf Pack Meats, where he spent eight years contributing to daily operations and livestock processing. Following his tenure at Wolf Pack Meats, he transitioned to working with Extension on the launch and development of Nevada’s first USDA-inspected mobile processing trailer. Over the past two and a half years, he has played a key role in troubleshooting operations, supporting regulatory compliance, and advancing mobile meat processing infrastructure in the state. Areas of expertise include meat processing operations, USDA regulatory procedures, mobile unit logistics, and facility management.

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Dr. Amilton de Mello

Associate Professor – CABNR

Dr. de Mello is an associate professor at UNR's College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources. His extensive industry background, allied with his academic experience, allows him to understand the needs of small and large producers and carefully guide them through technical and regulatory challenges. While working in the industry, he held quality assurance and food safety managerial positions where he liaised with customers and regulatory agencies. His academic research focuses on improving animal protein using a farm-to-fork approach. Domestic and international companies have used meat processing methodologies developed in his laboratory to improve robust food safety systems. He provided guidance for numerous establishments and also served as a member of USDA National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection. Dr. de Mello is the official USDA HACCP coordinator for Nevada. His work is widely recognized for bridging scientific innovation with practical application, making him a trusted expert in meat science, food safety, and regulatory compliance.

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Carol Bishop

Extension Professor

Carol Bishop is an Extension Professor specializing in business management, entrepreneurship, and agricultural economic development. She is experienced in business planning, feasibility analysis, and financial management, helping Nevada producers and small businesses navigate the complexities of the agricultural industry. She has worked extensively on programs designed to expand local food systems, strengthen small farm viability, and improve access to USDA resources. Through her leadership, she continues to support Nevada’s agricultural and food business communities, ensuring long-term sustainability and economic growth.

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Cody Hussla

Crop Production Coordinator

Cody Hussla is a Crop Production Coordinator with the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, and is a crop and pest control advisor to support and assist with agriculture planning and implementation for the Nevada Beginning Farmer Rancher Program. Cody is from Sparks NV and studied entomology and wildlife, fish, and conservation biology at UC Davis, and worked with UC Agricultural and Natural Resources, John Muir Institute, UC Natural Reserve Systems, and the Desert Research Institute. Cody specializes in regenerative agriculture/ecosystems and sustainable production and has experience and practice with conventional agricultural production.

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Luis Fernando Schütz

Assistant Professor - Agriculture, Veterinary and Rangeland Sciences

Luis Fernando Schütz, PhD is an Assistant Professor at the Agriculture, Veterinary and Rangeland Sciences Department at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). He is a reproductive biologist with years of experience as a practicing veterinarian in Brazil and as a researcher. He joined UNR in 2018 and currently teaches two courses: Cattle Production and Management and Physiology of Reproduction. His area of research is reproductive physiology and epigenetics with an emphasis on ovarian physiology. His current research projects involve understanding how lifestyle, diet, and environmental factors affect biology of gonads and gametes with impacts on fertility and on the health and fertility of the next generation; molecular and epigenetic mechanisms of ovarian function; and the impact of environmental toxicants on fertility. The aims of his research include improving reproductive performance of cattle and supporting fertility research related to women's health. Areas of expertise include reproductive biology, veterinary science, epigenetics, and fertility science.

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Catelyn Bridges

Hemp Research Specialist - Extension - Reno, NV

Catelyn Bridges is graduating with her PhD in Horticulture and Agronomy from the University of California, Davis. She also has an MS in Biological and Agricultural Engineering from Texas A&M University and a BS in Biological Systems Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Catelyn spent time in the recreational cannabis industry before pursuing a doctorate, which provided direct insight into organic cultivation practices and observation of the industry's current postharvest processes. That experience prompted her current investigation into how postharvest processes affect the quality of medicinal hemp flowers for her dissertation work. She has also constructed an extension project that benefits the hemp postharvest industries. In addition to her research, she is a Hemp Research Specialist at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she manages hemp field trials, writes extension publications, and organizes local hemp field days.

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Cally Wade

Coordinator

Cally Wade supports agricultural education and outreach in Logandale, NV, through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher – Herds & Harvest Program, helping new and diversifying producers succeed with workshops, technical assistance, and mentoring.

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Meet the Team