University of Nevada Cooperative Extension is engaged in Nevada communities, presenting research-based knowledge to address critical community needs in the areas of agriculture; children, youth and families; community and economic development; horticulture; health and nutrition; and natural resources. It is a county-state-federal partnership providing practical education to people, businesses and communities. It is a unit of the University of Nevada, Reno’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources, and plays a vital role in fulfilling the University’s land-grant mission.
PROGRAM IMPACTS
AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS
Ag Innovation Forum Series - This program provides practical information and know-how needed for agricultural producers and small acreage owners to optimize their land use potential and maintain agricultural open space in Carson Valley: Beginning Farmer Rancher – A program that brings training, mentoring and business advice to a new generation of agriculture producers: Eagles & Ag – A program to promote the benefits agriculture provides wildlife and the community, conservation and prosperity of ranching in western Nevada, and enhance participant knowledge in wildlife habitat and local agriculture: Cattleman’s Update – Provides current research-based information about important management practices and issues that may affect the efficiency, productivity, profitability and sustainability of cattle production businesses: Future of Carson Valley Agriculture – This is a study to interview and examine the attitudes and perspectives of local agricultural producers on their vision of agriculture in the Carson Valley.
Topics included: Small Scale Aquaponics, Making Greater Use of Native Plants and Weeds, and Critters and Insects in the Landscape & Garden.
On average, 50 people attended each of the 3 2018 events.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Leadership Douglas County – A community leadership program designed to develop informed, involved, and knowledgeable community members for Douglas County: Sustainable Living – Working with GreenACTnv, a local non-profit, to promote sustainable practices, renewable energy use, and environmental responsibilities in the way we work, live, and play: Facilitation Projects – UNCE facilitates projects/programs that address community needs and improve quality of life respective to diverse aspects within Douglas County: Economic Vitality – In coordination with the Douglas County program concentrating on agrihoods.
HEALTH & NUTRITION
GROW Healthy Kids & Community – A program to improve youth understanding and appreciation for developing life-long habits in regular exercise, active living and healthy eating reaching 65 youth participants.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Sage Grouse Conservation – Cooperative Extension works with Local Area Working Groups (LAWGs) to plan and implement conservation efforts to improve sagebrush ecosystems and ultimately increase sage grouse populations:
Climate Change Partnership – Cooperative Extension collaborates with the Southwest Regional Climate Hub of the USDA Agriculture Research Service (ARS) and with Cooperative Extension in six western states to build a partnership to assist Extension in incorporating climate science into Extension programming:
Flood Education and Planning – Working with the Carson Water Subconservancy District this educational effort helps citizens better prepare for flood hazards and understand the importance of keeping floodplain lands open and functional:
The Living With Fire Program teaches Nevadans how to live more safely in wildfire prone areas. The program reached 375 direct contacts and distributed 790 publications within Douglas County. The program attended one community event, assisted three communities (i.e. Holbrook Highlands, Job’s Peak Ranch and Skyland) with preparing for or helping plan events in their community, presented to one civic community group and provided Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District with the Ember House youth activity twice for their events.
The Nevada Network of Fire Adapted Communities’ Fourth Annual Conference was held in Washoe County. This statewide event drew 16 Douglas County community leaders, civic group members and representatives of the local fire protection districts. During the conference’s afternoon session, participants had the opportunity to interact with their local fire district about how both could work more effectively towards becoming a Fire Adapted Community. As a result of the conference held by the Living With Fire Program, Douglas County residents, East Fork Fire Protection District and the Nevada Division of Forestry met to discuss the process and objectives of becoming a Fire Adapted Community.
Grazing Strategy Indices for Range Quality – A research project to help ranchers and agencies work in concert to achieve mutual goals for rangeland productivity, rangeland health, riparian functions, fire and fuels management, and wildlife habitat.
CHILDREN, YOUTH & FAMILIES | 4-H
4-H – Participants are youth, ages 5 to 19, taking part in programs provided as the result of actions planned and initiated by Cooperative Extension personnel in cooperation with volunteers. 4-H is characterized as being community centered, volunteer led, extension staff supervised, research based, home and family oriented, publicly and privately funded and responsive to change. It offers youth opportunities in communications, leadership, career development, citizenship, healthy living, science, technology, engineering and math and more.
4-H Enrollment at 270 youth and 38 adult volunteers for 2017-18 continues to positively impact youth by providing practical life skills, community service, public speaking, civic engagement and record keeping.
- Sent more than 200 handmade cards to our troops overseas and Douglas County Seniors living in assisted living homes
- Annual donation drive benefitting the Douglas County Food Closet with participation from 150 youth collecting 450 pounds of non-perishables.
- More than 300 educational meetings, lessons and activities for: Horticulture, Science and Technology, Livestock Education, Equine, Small Animas, Firearm Safety, Public Speaking, Home Economics, Outdoor Education and Leadership.
- 25 youth, 5 teen counselors and 5 adult chaperones attended Nevada State 4-H Camp, a week long overnight camp at Stateline, NV.
- 58 Portfolio Record books were turned in for judging. Completing a Portfolio Record Book is crucial to learning life skills. It incorporates record keeping, resume writing, essay writing, creativity and time management skills.
- 17 families attended the Nevada State 4-H Shooting Match in Las Vegas, Nevada with youth participating from across Nevada.
- 30 youth competed at the Nevada Junior Livestock Show in Reno in sheep, swine, steer and goat and more than 10 additional competitions during the year.
- Co-sponsored youth livestock show with more than 100 participants from across Nevada and California.
- Co-sponsored shooting competition to raise funds for youth shooting sports attended by 300 from multiple states.
- Sponsored a public, all ages, family friendly fall family event and fundraiser with more than 600 in attendance.
- 200 attended annual 4-H Award’s Night.
- 25 attended record keeping workshops.
- $3,000 grant funds from Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and $4,190.25 grant funds from NRA Foundation were obtained for the 4-H Shooting Sports Program.
HORTICULTURE
Master Gardeners – Provides consumers with up-to-date, reliable information and offers a fun and useful volunteer activity, which gives participants a sense of community spirit, accomplishment and intellectual stimulation:
Grow Your Own – A program to help citizens who want to get on a path to more sustainable, local, healthy living by growing more of their own food:
Weed Warriors – An introductory-level training on the principles of integrated weed management and focuses on improving ability to identify noxious weeds of local importance:
Pesticide Safety Education – A program to help pesticide applicators obtain and retain their certification and teach safe pesticide use. The horticulturist one day a week had 527 face to face contacts, 643 phone calls and an undocumented number of emails from Douglas County.
RADON
Radon Education – A program to educate citizens about radon health risk which offers literature, educational programs and radon test kits: In Douglas County, 40.9% of the homes tested have elevated levels of radon, which is the second highest county for radon potential. In some areas of the county, such as Stateline, Glenbrook, Zephyr Cove and Gardnerville, the ratio is higher, with 50% to 66% of the tested homes having elevated levels of radon.
Since program inception, more than 4,864 homes in Douglas County have been tested. This is 20.4% of the total housing units in the county (using 2016 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for number of housing unit estimates). At least 10,095 short- and long-term radon test kits have been distributed since the program’s inception, and at least 6,438 of the kits have been used, for a usage percentage of 63.8%. In fiscal year 2018, 801 short- and long-term kits were distributed, with 421 kits used, for a usage rate of 52.5%. At least 471 of the kits were distributed from the Douglas County Cooperative Extension office, while others were distributed from partners and program events by the Nevada Radon Education Program.
Of the homes needing mitigation (after confirmation testing), 349 have undergone mitigation, resulting in a 21% mitigation percentage. Also, there are a total of 510 reported real estate tests and 97 Radon-Resistant New Construction (RRNC) homes in Douglas County since the program’s inception. In fiscal year 2018, 35 homes were reported mitigated, 9 homes built RRNC, and 90 homes tested during the home purchase process.
FISCAL YEAR 2017 - 2018
Summary
$441,892 - Total Revenue
$204,486 - Total Expenses
$22,118 - Total Balance
Revenue
$268,829 - County
$2,105 - Grants
$88,105 - State
$82,853 - Federal
Douglas County Cooperative Extension
1325 Waterloo Lane | Gardnerville, NV 89410
Lindsay Chichester, Extension Educator
chichesterl@unce.unr.edu | 775-784-4848
