In this edition
- Extension to aid in the fight against domestic violence in Clark and Elko Counties
- Clark County students learn about the health benefits of blood oranges and bell peppers
- Extension holds annual bare root tree sale in Clark County
- Extension hires personnel to help improve nutrition and health in Nevada
- Honors, accolades accorded to Extension, Clark County employees
About our College
A founding college of the University, we have a long tradition of excellence in teaching, research and engagement programs that benefit the health and economic vitality of Nevada. We offer programs in:
- agriculture, horticulture, rangeland & veterinary sciences
- biochemistry and molecular biology
- children, youth & families
- community and economic development
- health and nutrition
- natural resources and environmental science
Extension to aid in the fight against domestic violence in Clark and Elko Counties
Extension’s domestic violence team will provide support to local law enforcement and agencies by educating them about useful tools to identify domestic violence emergencies.
Victims of domestic violence at high risk of fatality in Clark and Elko Counties are getting more comprehensive assistance to keep them safe and set them on a path to a secure, self-sufficient life, thanks to a new University of Nevada, Reno Extension program. Teams will be assembled to follow up with domestic violence victims after initial contact with law enforcement to provide them with resources and support to help them with recovery moving forward. Extension’s Domestic Violence High Risk Team Program was funded last July by a $173,207 grant from the STOP Violence Against Women Act Program, administered here in Nevada by the Office of the Attorney General.
When a call to law enforcement pertains to domestic violence, Extension’s newly established high-risk teams will provide the victim with information on a variety of necessary services, including counseling and legal assistance, as well as basic necessities, such as shelter and food. Pamela Payne, assistant professor and the principal investigator for the grant, and her team are partnering with the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center to develop these teams. The teams will work with the Crisis Center to ensure they’re working with appropriate community resources to best serve the local area.
The team in Clark County has brought on two coordinators to work with law enforcement and community resources. Payne and the new coordinators have decided to focus specifically on North Las Vegas since it was recommended by community partners as an area with a high rate of domestic violence activity, but also an area that would be receptive to the domestic violence high-risk team. While the resources in Elko County are tailored to the needs of the rural population, the team in Clark County has partnered with resources and agencies tailored to help with needs of the large urban population.
In addition to the award from the STOP Violence Against Women Act Program, Extension in Clark County was recently awarded an additional $1 million as part of a grant from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Read more about Extension’s program to help reduce domestic violence in Nevada
Clark County students learn about the health benefits of blood oranges and bell peppers
Students at 27 Clark County schools benefit from Extension’s Produce Pick of the Month, a series of nine monthly nutrition lessons designed to promote fruit and vegetable consumption among second- and third-grade students. In January, students learned how the blood orange is not only a tasty snack, but also chock-full of health benefits. In February, they learned all about bell peppers.
Extension Community Based Instructor Cathy Baptista passes out blood oranges, the Produce Pick of the Month, for third grade students to taste in the classroom.
The third graders learned how the blood oranges were grown and why oranges are so beneficial to their health.
Bailey Elementary students smile as they enjoy this month’s lesson on bell peppers.
During the lessons, students also learn about exercise. This time, they danced to Extension's Healthy Kids "Pack It Up" hip-hop song.
As smelling is a huge component of experiencing food, this student enjoys the aroma of a red bell pepper.
Not only do students taste the Produce Pick of the Month in the classroom, they also take part in a sensory evaluation, analyzing its sensory qualities and writing down adjectives that describe them.
Extension holds annual bare root tree sale in Clark County
An almond tree blooms at the Orchard. Photos by Louise Ruskamp.
The Research Center & Demonstration Orchard, a collaborative effort between University of Nevada, Reno Extension and UNLV located in North Las Vegas, recently completed its annual bare root tree sale. The sale is offered each year as a community service to the Las Vegas Valley and surrounding areas. This year’s 315-tree order included 44 varieties of apple, almond, apricot, aprium, pluot, plum, pluerry, peach, nectarine, Asian and European pear, persimmon, fig, and pomegranates. The sale provides homeowners and backyard orchardists with top-quality tree stock designed for southern Nevada's climate and soils at a reasonable price.
Trees are ordered each year from Dave Wilson Nursery in Hickman, California. The online order, which goes live in December, includes information about the size of the tree, its rootstock, the color and flavor of its fruit, approximate fruit harvest times, and if a different tree is needed for pollination, all important information to know when selecting a fruit tree.
“They are a wonderful company to order from as they offer hybrids like apriums and pluots, which are not readily available from other growers,” Louise Ruskamp, Research Center & Demonstration Orchard manager, said.
When the trees arrived in February, volunteers and staff prepared the orders. The trees were heeled-in with moist wood chip mulch, a technique that is used to store the trees for a short period of time, keeping the roots moist until they are ready to be put in the ground. Moisture levels are monitored carefully to prevent the fragile roots from drying out.
When homeowners pick up their orders, they are provided with directions for planting the trees, plus information about the fruit variety and harvest time. Extension staff and Master Gardener volunteers are available to answer homeowners' questions about how to plant, care for, head or prune the young tree at planting time. Homeowners can also stroll through any of the three orchards on site to see the young and mature trees that are planted there.
“People are always very excited for the annual sale, which sells out quickly. Some varieties are gone within days,” Ruskamp said. “Planting trees reduces our carbon footprint, improves air quality, and when it is a fruit tree, provides you with a wonderful treat. We have been pleased to provide another 90 homes with fruit trees this year and are happy to provide this service.”
Master Gardner Susan Haas keeps the trees moist.
There were 90 tree orders in 2022, totalling 315 trees.
A bare root tree is tagged and ready to be taken home.
A peach tree blooms at the Orchard.
Extension hires personnel to help improve nutrition and health in Nevada
University of Nevada, Reno Extension recently named Macy Helm as SNAP-Ed coordinator and Brian Luckey as SNAP-Ed evaluation coordinator to assist in increasing the health and nutrition program’s impact throughout Nevada. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budgets of those with lower incomes to help improve their nutritional well-being. SNAP-Ed is the educational outreach associated with the program to teach people how to make their benefits stretch further, how to shop for and cook healthy meals, and how to stay physically active.
These positions will be especially important in Clark County as 30% of Clark County is eligible for SNAP-Ed activities, according to the 2019 American Community Survey. Currently, Extension’s SNAP-Ed programming team is working on policy, systems and environmental interventions with 22 sites in Clark County to increase the access to and appeal of healthy eating and physical activity.
Macy Helm (left) serves as SNAP-Ed coordinator. Photo by James Guiry. Brian Luckey serves as SNAP-Ed evaluation coordinator. Photo by Robert Moore.
Read more about how these positions will boost impacts of SNAP-Ed programming
Honors, accolades accorded to Extension, Clark County employees
Extension’s Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools team, led by Extension Specialist Aurora Calvillo Buffington, recently received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Congressman Steven Horsford for providing Clark County School District students with nourishment and nutritional education received during the Chefs for Kids breakfast at Booker Elementary School in Las Vegas.
Hayley Maio was recently named Extension educator for southern Nye County.
Extension’s Healthy Aging Newsletter was distributed statewide alongside Governor Sisolak’s proclamation for Nutrition Month in Nevada. Healthy Aging is Extension’s program offering physical activity, nutrition education and health promotion to elders throughout Nevada.
Aurora Calvillo Buffington (center) receives the Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Congressman Steven Horsford. Presented by Ishmael Carroll (right), Outreach Coordinator from the Office of Congressman Horsford.
Haley Maio was recently named Extension educator for southern Nye County.
