Program Impacts

Health and Wellness

Extension in Mineral County continues to promote healthy living and well-being for local residents.  

Veggies for Seniors is a grant funded produce distribution program offered to Mineral County seniors 65 years of age and older.  The program has been in operation for 13+ years, and provides vegetables, fruits, nutrition education, and nutritional recipe ideas to elderly residents. The program is facilitated by John “Bud” Gazaway who works closely with amazing local volunteers to pack and distribute food across the county. For some seniors this is the only fresh food they get in the month. 

Extension also promotes the importance of physical activity in aging populations.  The Mineral County Extension office works with a Senior Exercise group to promote healthy habits and mobility.  This group meets on Mondays and Wednesdays for strength training, stretching and various exercise routines. The group has grown and consists of 10-12 regular attendees. Extension provides classroom space for the group to meet and assist volunteer instructors as needed to facilitate the classes, occasionally giving presentations on resources and information. 

Mineral County 4-H Youth Development

4-H programming empowers youth to become thriving members of society through experiential learning and inquiry-based environments with emphasis on career building, service to the community, as well as record keeping and leadership. 4-H youth learn to find their sparks, gain a sense of belonging, form relationships with their peers and caring adults, and demonstrate engagement in their communities. Long-term outcomes include greater successes in academic or vocational education, civic engagement, employment, economic stability, and increased overall sense of happiness and well-being. 

Community Engagement Events

4-H Open House: A 4-H Open House was held on February 13, 2025, to introduce and promote 4-H Youth Development to local youth and parents.  Unfortunately, due to severe weather, only 5 community members were able to attend.   

Back to school: On Saturday, August 2, 2025, Mineral County Extension took part in the Mineral County Resource Fair, where we handed out pencils, paper, and crayons to Mineral County students to help get them prepared for the upcoming school year. We also provided information on Extension and 4-H programming and enrichment activities like backpack key chain crafts and physical activity games to get students moving and excited to return to school. An estimated 200 youths and families attended this event. 

Mount Grant Hospital Wellness Expo:  On April 23, 2025, Mineral County 4-H in collaboration with the University of Nevada, Reno Extension “Too Good for Drugs” youth program run by John “Bud” Gazaway participated in the Mount Grant Hospital Wellness Expo where we gave out information on 4-H youth programming, upcoming 4-H Camp, and discussed how to keep Mineral County Youth eating healthy and busy with youth programming to keep them away from drugs and in healthy activities. An estimated 150 community members attended this event throughout the day. 

Armed Forces Day weekend: The Mineral County Armed Forces Day celebration was held on May 18, 2025, in Hawthorn, Nevada. The Mineral Extension office and 4-H Youth Development program worked with event leaders to have children’s activities at the event ranging from physical activities to crafts to enrich and build youth creativity while also promoting upcoming 4-H Camp, clubs, and youth membership enrollment.  

SP-IN Clubs 

In FY 2024-2025, Extension in Mineral County offered a new mode of youth development: the Special Interest (SP-IN) Club. A SP-IN Club is a six-week course of educational content that allows youths to experience a new topic and try 4-H programming. Our most popular club was the “Zombie Apocalypse” Survival Club, where youths were given the opportunity to develop their confidence and problem-solving skills through interacting with nature, learning basic first aid, and learning how to survive in the wilderness (or a zombie apocalypse!)

4-H Camp

Mineral County 4-H was excited to be at the State 4-H camp at Lake Tahoe during the third week of July 2024 with a theme of Under the Sea. Campers decorated their cabins and participated in skits using the theme. Mineral County was represented by 15 campers and 1 adult chaperone. Campers participated in a wide range of activities including learning about Living with Fire, animal health, rocket construction, team building, food systems education, animal byproducts, and archery. Daily swimming in Lake Tahoe remained a highlight and favorite tradition among campers.

Trunk or Treat

The Mineral County Extension office and 4-H Youth Development Program partnered with the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office and Search and Rescue along with other community leaders to host a community Trunk or Treat Halloween event at the Mineral County Courthouse.  Over 30 businesses, community members, and local government offices gathered with their decorated trunks to pass out candy to local youth in a safe, friendly, and fun alternative to trick or treating in the streets.  An estimate of 300 youths and families attended.  

Radon Education in Action

On January 6, 2025 The Mineral County Board of Commissioners proclaimed January “National Radon Action Month in Nevada”. The Mineral County Extension office read this proclamation and gave information on what Radon is, why it is important to test for Radon, answered questions, and notified the public that we would be handing out free Radon test kits. 

Over 25 radon kits were given out during January and February to Mineral County residents to ensure they are living in safe and healthy home environments.

Fiscal Overview