Nevada Farm Bureau Conference

Nevada Farm Bureau and the Nevada Department of Agriculture presented the Southern Nevada Agriculture Conference in Las Vegas last weekend at the Santa Fe Station. This was the first time in Nevada Farm Bureau history that the Annual Agricultural Conference was held in Las Vegas and Clark County was well represented there. Zach Allen the Director of Communications for Nevada Farm Bureau said, “It went well having a joint Southern Nevada Agricultural Conference with the Department of Agriculture. It gave an opportunity to share new ideas and make new friends with a variety of people throughout the state.” Allen explained that the Farm Bureau convention provides an opportunity for farmers and ranchers to discuss and create policy that benefits farmers and ranchers throughout the state.”

(Congratulations to Jill Combs of Las Vegas on receiving the Clark County Nevada Farm Bureau Volunteer of the Year Award.)

 

The Conference began on Thursday where the attendee’s were able to sit in on several workshops that pertained to agriculture and growing a business. Logandale resident Cindy Hardy, who is also the Chair of the Woman’s Committee, found the classes informative and helpful. She said, “They were to help farmers get ideas to better their farming or ranching businesses.” Carol Bishop the Moapa Valley Cooperative Extension Educator taught a class with the Nevada Farm Bureau Vice President and Panaca farmer, Paul Mathews on Business Planning for a Farm or Ranch. Bishop explained to the class the importance of writing down expenses and creating a plan to show profit. Bishop told the group she offers her help to those looking to improve their agricultural business. Mathews gave an example of his experience to make his farming business profitable. Through the help from a Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan and taking a class to better manage his business he was able to turn a profit after a few years of patient and documented farming. Other classes during the conference focused on agronomy or making soil fertile as well as exporting into global markets, selling local, indoor growing, farm/ranch marketing, and food safety.

Friday the Nevada Farm Bureau group gathered together to discuss policies in which they would take to the Nevada State Legislature. There was also a Discussion Meet held by the Young Farmers & Ranchers group. The Discussion Meet was a friendly competition consisting of a series of formal discussions on assigned topics. Jamie Perkins, former Young Farmer Rancher Chair explained, “They are formatted after a (Farm Bureau) Board Meeting and discussion. This prepares them to lead discussions on policy and delegating important issues to lead and share ideas.”

(Cindy Hardy at the Womans Committee Breakfast)

 

4 Moapa Valley residents participated in this year’s Discussion Meets; Kaluna Aki, Ashley Bunker, Stephanie Bunker, and Kaley Sproul although Sproul was representing the county she attends school in. Most of the candidates from Moapa Valley had never participated in an event such as this before but they found the meet to be a good experience for them. Aki said, “I liked how we could meet with people in the state of Nevada to discuss different views.” Aki recalled being quite nervous as were all the contestants but despite the nerves they were able to contribute to a good discussion. Ashley Bunker said, “It was good to have the opportunity to learn more about agriculture and discuss other Farm Bureau issues.” Bunker also said she learned a lot about public speaking and was able to meet a lot of people and friends. Ashley and Stephanie Bunker went on to participate in the second round of discussion that night but to their relief they did not continue to the final round. The winners of the final round were Cory Shrecengost for 1^st, Bobby Fagundes took 2^nd place, Dann Mathews won 3^rd, and Ethan Marshall won 4^th place.

(Kaluna Aki and Stephanie Bunker participated in the Discussion Meet)

 

(Ashley Bunker from Clark County also participated in the Discussion Meet)