As the largest county, by area, in the State of Nevada, Nye County is vast, diverse and unique.  To best reflect the work of Northern and Southern Nye Extension offices, this annual report is divided into two sections:  Program Impacts of Northern Nye County and Program Impacts of Southern Nye County.

Program Impacts of Northern Nye County

Personal & Family Development:  4-H Community Groups

All children face risks as they grow and develop, and most children can benefit greatly from positive interactions with caring adults. Children who have strong interpersonal skills and support are less likely to participate in risky behaviors.

COVID pandemic mandates lessened, and school/classrooms reopened with restrictions.  We worked with schools and staff to creatively problem-solve solutions and continue serving our community in novel ways.  We experienced 4 weeks of school and classroom shut downs, due to COVID, which is greatly improved from the previous year.

• 2,300+ Contacts with Youth:  Our professional staff created and delivered 4-H youth programming, in the form of group and club meetings, community events, special interest activities, and day camps.  Below are details regarding the programs Extension delivered to the Round Mountain and Tonopah communities:

• Cloverbuds:  for our youngest youth ages 5-7 years old.  This 4-H program inspires curiosity in our young learners, encouraging exploration, discovery and cultivating a spirit of community service.
• Science Exploration:  a STEM focused 4-H group.  From the science of illusion and magic, to plant and animal sciences, youth learn about the diverse ways they interact with elements of science in their everyday lives.
• Visual Arts:   offers creative outlets for youth to experiment with color, shapes and mediums.  Youth get hands on opportunities to create and display their works.
• Vet Science:  for older youth interested in a rigorous science-based program that teaches animal anatomy, dissection, prevention and care of sick or injured domestic animals and medication administration.

• Halloween Graveyard Stomp and Halloween Bingo:  family fun fishing booth and bingo
• Ornament Making Service Project:  handmade ornaments for service project
• Community Gift Bag Service Project:  annual project for the underserved
• ATV Safety Training:  youth and family workshops to encourage ATV safety
• Family Bingo:  popular and dynamic night of fun and games
• Earth Day and Arbor Day:  conservation and horticulture programming
• Mars Rovers Family Night:  a rover built with family & run through an obstacle course
• Historical Tea Party:  Edwardian period fashion history lesson over tea
• Shelter Building Challenge:  using rudimentary supplies, build an emergency shelter

• College Days and FAFSA Nights:  energizing days and FAFSA evening workshops
• Post-Secondary Planning Workshops:  inspire possibilities and future planning
• Career Day Fair:  large event exposing students to diverse professions and pathways
• Wild Horse Foster-to-Adopt Project:  a BLM and 4-H partnership to gentle horses

Community & Economic Development

Community development is the foundation for all economic development.  The residents in and around Tonopah, through conversations with 125 individuals, including 50 agencies and organization, collectively identified three critical needs:

1. No Hospital/Lack of medical services
2. Lack of housing
3. No licensed child care (in-home or center-based)

Meeting these needs is crucial to the stabilization and future growth of the community.  The median ages in Nye County (51.7y) and Esmeralda County (51.5y) are significantly higher than the state median age of 36.9 years.  Northern Nye County has been experiencing a reduction of families and working age citizens.  Creating an action plan to address critical community identified needs, simultaneously serve as both 1) prevention strategy for community trends, societal issues and at-risk behaviors and 2) talent-retention strategy to support recruitment and retention of critical professionals (medical providers, teachers, scientists) and families.

Where appropriate, Extension efforts support the community in addressing these critical needs.

• Northern Nye County Hospital District:  attend meetings periodically and provide recommendations based on community need
• Northern Nye Housing Development Summit:  partnership with Southwest Central Regional Economic Development Authority and UNR College of Business, where participants co-created a 5-year plan to address local housing needs
• Child Development Center Funding Proposal:  in partnership with Nye County and Town of Tonopah, Extension provided technical assistance in creating a $1,000,000 proposal that navigated through the Federal appropriations process
• Child Development Champion:  provides local and state recommendations, while advocating for funding and assistance in “child care deserts”
• Capacity Building:  Child Development Associate, Babysitting Certification

Agriculture

Every year the country, and state, experience a loss of farmers and ranchers.  Alarmingly, more producers are leaving the agricultural industry than there are entering it.  With agriculture identified as a national security issue, it is growing increasingly important to support and expand the industry to meet future demand.

• Night with Extension Workshop:  partnership with Nevada Farm Bureau to provide education and support to our area producers
• Accessible Agriculture:  recruit and retain producers by creating an accessible industry through the use of AgrAbility grant funded adaptive technology programs

 

Program Impacts of Southern Nye County

Personal & Family Development:  4-H Community Groups

Helping just one child stay healthy and be successful in school can save well over $20,000 in estimated educational, medical and incarceration costs.  Despite this year's challenges with the Covid-19 pandemic, we have been able to continue offering quality programs with new, innovative delivery methods.

• 290 youth participated in 4-H educational programming
• 185 group enrollments
• 105 member enrollment in clubs facilitated by TEN volunteer leaders

Highlighted Clubs

Bullseye Shooting Sports teach youth safe handling and operation of firearms including

• archery
• muzzleloader
• .22 rifle

Cloverbuds youngest group of 4-H’ers participate in a wide variety of topics from Mindfulness to STEAM. Members from other active clubs often share activity with Cloverbuds.

Community Club

• run their own business meetings and offer support for all other 4-H clubs.
• hold regular food collection drives for donation to the VFW Food Pantry
• donated school supplies for 600 students
• help local worthy causes during December holiday season

Dog Den with members 9-19 years old

• work with their dogs on agility, rally commands, showmanship and everyday situations
• active in the local Pahrump community with cleanup projects
• participate in disc leagues and more
• many members earned their first certificate in K-9 good citizenship and are working on achieving their second
• participated in Pahrump Fall Festival 2021 parade

FIRST LEGO League Explore program for 6-10 years old

• club enjoyed the Cargo Connect challenge this year with idea builds and coding
• learned about transportation of goods, with focus on fundamentals of engineering
• showcased their project at FLL Explore Spring Festival at Thomas & Mack in Las Vegas.

FIRST Tech Challenge Awkward Silence is a competitive Robotics Team.

• Senator Jacky Rosen visited with members during her June 2022 visit to Pahrump Extension and were pleased to receive acknowledgement certificates from her.
• Club was a recipient of a grant awarded by Home Depot Foundation, which enabled the installation of improved robotic play area in the annex, to provide optimal practice space.
• Club display booth at Pahrump Fall Festival 2021 generated much interest and enthusiasm with visitors.
• Placed 3rd in the Nevada State Championship Competition in Reno (Spring 2022)
• MeetPlay hosted at Nye County Coalition with other Southern area FTC teams provided opportunity for local community outreach and engagement

Kids in the Garden tend their garden on site with guidance from club leader as they learn about growing vegetables, herbs, and flowers.

Livestock

• teaches safe and healthy care and upkeep of livestock with hands-on learning on variety of animals including goats, dairy cow, swine, turkeys, ducks, pigeons, doves and rabbits
• built their own obstacle course on site to utilize during goat showmanship practice
• displayed goats and rabbits for community engagement at Pahrump Fall Festival 2021

Paper Clover at Tractor Supply members create posters which are displayed in-store as fundraiser.

Reptile and Bug Club

• relationship formed with Ash Meadows staff during visit to observe native habitat of indigenous species
• club contributing to data collected on bugs and reptiles observed locally

Word Play Café Creative Writing

• group collectively wrote an original story and installed a Story Walk in the Extension Demonstration Garden, so the public may enjoy the work. This was launched in April with local media present and continues to be an enormous success in the local community.

Extension Office in Pahrump

• the office is open for walk-in services Monday through Friday, 9am – 3pm.
• A conference room with video conferencing is available for eligible agencies to use without cost.  The Pahrump office hosted the following with total 33 attendees.
  • Alzheimer’s (14)
  • Cattleman’s Update (3)
  • Master Food Preserver (8)
  • Pesticide Safety Training (8)
  • Radon Education

Horticulture

The Extension Horticulture program is very important to the residents of Southern Nye County, and Pahrump, that have come to rely on the education and expertise provided by their local help desk. 

Trained Master Gardener staff and volunteers distribute research-based Extension Publications to advise homeowners on successful gardening.

• 16 Pahrump Master Gardeners volunteered 2451 hours at a financial value of $73407 for FY21-22 ($29.95 volunteer hourly rate per Independent Sector)
• Farmers’ Market is hosted and managed by Pahrump Master Gardeners. 
• Offered year round, with an average of 25 vendor booths weekly, 1250 annually
• Averages 365 visitors weekly, with estimate of 18250 visits annually

Produce Vendors are guided to obtain and display current Nevada Producers’ certificates, and Cottage Foods vendors register with the NV Dept. of Health to follow safe recommended preparation, handling, packaging and labeling practices. The Market is located in the parking lot of Tractor Supply at 900 E. NV Hwy 372, Pahrump.

The Market observes Nevada Health Response guidelines, featuring essential produce, eggs, honey, cottage foods, hand-made soaps and crafts, ensuring access to fresh local food for area residents, visitors and shoppers.

• The Food & Horticulture Exhibits room at Pahrump Fall Festival is hosted and judged by Pahrump Master Gardeners, who volunteered 155 hours over 7 days, whilst facilitating intake and judging of 129 Food/Horticulture entries. 1196 public visitors thru the Fair room were welcomed. 176 free gardening publications were given to support questions received. Contact made from 45 residents who expressed interest in the Master Gardener Volunteer Training course or other classes.
• Horticulture Education is the foundation of the Master Gardener program. Workshops with total 460 attendees include:
  • Master Gardener Training (16 with 5 certified)
  • Beekeeping
  • Gardening Workshops
  • Pine Tree Recycling
  • Soil Series, Grow Your Own, Nevada! Growing in Small Spaces, Gardening Under the Stars
  • Pahrump Master Gardeners participate in Community Events including Pahrump Fall Festival, Earth Day, Wild West Extravaganza, Adopt-A-Highway

Published by: Allen, M. and Maio, H., 2022, Nye County Annual Report | Fiscal Year 2021-2022, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, County Reports

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