UNR Hosts Nevada Farmers Forum

The University of Nevada, Reno will host The Nevada Farmers Forum on Friday, Jan. 23, and Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Joe Crowley Student Union on the UNR campus. This event is designed to bring together farmers, ranchers, and agricultural leaders from across Nevada for two days of education and networking focused on strengthening small-farm agriculture.

According to the event description, the forum is designed to offer hands-on learning, practical strategies, and community connection. “Join Nevada’s farmers, ranchers, and agricultural leaders for two days of education and community building, by farmers for farmers,” the description states. “Discover practical methods and innovative strategies to strengthen small farm agriculture.”

Registration for the forum is $95 and includes refreshments, Saturday lunch, and Friday parking passes. Parking will be free on Saturday.

Friday’s schedule begins with a welcome and opening ceremony from 1:30 to 3 p.m., followed by lectures and seminars continuing until 5 p.m. A social mixer is scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for an additional fee at Liberty Food and Wine Exchange. This will provide participants with the opportunity to mingle and network with other farmers.

Saturday’s sessions begin at 10 a.m., with lunch and a keynote presentation at 11:30 a.m., featuring special guest Ben Hartman. Hartman will share stories of successful farmers from around the world and discuss his “more with less” approach to farming. Additional presentations will continue until 4:30 p.m.

Grow Organic Nevada hosts the event. They are supported through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), which is part of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service National Organic Program.

Sponsoring organizations include the Nevada College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources, the Great Basin Community Food Co-op, and the Local Food Group of Reno. UNR is partnering with Holley Family Farm and the Desert Farming Initiative to make the forum possible.

To register or find more information, go to events.unr.edu/event/nevada-farmers-forum