Workshops & Activities
Nevada FFA Association provides a wide variety of fun and educational workshops and service opportunities for students during State Convention. See details about this year’s offerings below!
9:30 am – 4 pm
Service Projects
Students will be able to choose from a variety of projects. Supplies will be provided.
Location: EJCH 202
10 am – 11 am
Roots to Resilience
The workshop aims to help students engage in self-discovery by exploring individual and collective histories. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of their own backgrounds and appreciate the richness of diversity.
Presented by UNR, Center for Student Engagement
Location: WRB 2006
YF&R after the Blue Jacket
Learn more about the opportunities Young Farmers & Ranchers and Nevada Farm Bureau have to offer after you hang up your blue jacket!
Presented by Nevada Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers
Location: WRB 2005
1 pm – 2 pm
Workshops repeated:
(see descriptions above from 10 – 11 am)
- Roots to Resilience
- YF&R after the Blue Jacket
10 am – 11:30 am
Biotechnology: A Hands-on Experience for Future Scientists
Venture into the field of molecular biology by applying biotechnological tools and techniques that allow the study of living things at the molecular level.
Presented by Dr. Karla Hernandez, University of Nevada, Reno, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Must pre-register by March 5 via your convention registration.
Location: UNR Mackay Science Building, Room 308
The 2023 International Field Ecologist and Range Manager Olympic Games
The golden opportunity to represent your school and go for glory in front of the world! The UNR Rangeland Olympic Games is a coveted competition and test of skill and might, competing to be the best in the west-ern range. Competitors will learn various skill sets common in field ecology and range management, and compete to be the ‘best hand in the land’. Sponsored events can include: 50m Tape Measure Reeling, Biomass Estimation, Navigational Orienteering, Chaining Pin Toss, First-aid Response, and Soil Texturing. Bring the best of yourself and your chapter!
Best of luck to all our competitors!
Presented by Dr. Tamzen Stringham and Team, University of Nevada, Reno, Rangeland Science
Must pre-register by March 5 via your convention registration.
Location: Knudtsen Resource Center (KRC) 104, 1000 Valley Road, Reno 89512 (see map below)
Large-Seeded Sorghum for Livestock Feed and Reduces Irrigation Needs
Explore how plants are being developed to use less water and help Ranchers feed their livestock.
Presented by Dr. Melinda Yerka, Agriculture, UNR Veterinary & Rangeland Science
Must pre-register by March 5 via your convention registration.
Location: Valley Road Greenhouses, 1000 Valley Road, Reno 89512 (see map above)
Livestock Reproduction
This hands-on activity will give you the opportunity to learn about cattle reproductive anatomy.
Presented by Dr. Luis Fernando Schutz, UNR Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Science
Must pre-register by March 5 via your convention registration.
Location: KRC Livestock Facilities
1:30 – 3 pm
CABNR Workshops repeated:
(see descriptions above from 10 – 11 am)
3 pm – 4:30 pm
Service Project
Students will deliver floral arrangements.
Location: EJCH 202
9 am – 12 pm
Service Projects
Students will be able to choose from a variety of projects. Supplies will be provided.
Location: EJCH 202
9 am – 10 am
Cultivating Community
What does community mean to you? How can we work to build better communities? Together, we will identify the importance of community and the building blocks to create more positive communities.
Presented by Kanyon Huntington – National FFA Central Region Vice President
Location: WRB 2003
Digging Deeper into Agricultural Education with NevadaTeach
You’ve been Tagged to Teach Ag! Join us for an edible Ag-Ed lesson to demonstrate the different layers of soil & soil health. Discover what a lesson in the life of an Ag Teacher is like, the perks of being an Ag Teacher, and learn about TeachAg at the UNR NevadaTeach program!
Presented by Abbie Jaynes & Sarah Perry, NevadaTeach Ag Pre-Service Teachers
Location: WRB 4116
Personal and Professional
Students will learn the importance of building connections and relationships while being personal and professional. Students will learn about the cruciality of great first impressions and how to approach different circumstances. Students will leave this workshop with a deeper level of connection with the “Ideal Professional”.
Presented by Jonathan Sruber, 2023-2024 Colorado FFA State Executive Committee Member
Location: EJCH 205
10:30 am – 11:30 am
Workshops Repeated:
(see descriptions above from 9-10 am)
9:30 am – 4 pm
Service Projects
Students will be able to choose from a variety of projects. Supplies will be provided.
Location: EJCH 202
10 am – 11 am
A Career in Land Surveying
Ever wonder what a Land Surveyor is? Wonder what a career in Land Surveying
might look like? We can help you in this workshop!
Presented by Trent Keenan, Diamondback Land Surveying
Location: WRB 2003
A Career as a Range Management Specialist
Education requirements, opportunities, duties, and tools of the trade.
Presented by Patti Novak-Echenique, USDI- Bureau of Land Management
Location: WRB 2005
Opportunities at UNR to Grow
Students will learn how UNR engages, educates and empowers students to take
action in the best interest of the student body and the University community.
Presented by UNR, Center for Student Engagement
Location: WRB 2006
Intro to NevadaTeach
Students will develop an understanding of opportunities within NevadaTeach. Students will also learn about what a career in Teach Ag entails.
Presented by Taylie Doss, Nevada FFA TeachAg Intern
Location: WRB 2007
1 pm – 2 pm
Careers in the Food Industry
The workshop will cover a range of careers in the food industry. A demonstration of
local ingredients and the product development cycle (from farm to shelf) including
samples of the finished product will be presented. A discussion of the course
requirements at the high school and college level will be covered followed by a
Question and Answer period.
Presented by Diane W Hoffpauer, Certified Culinary Scientist, Light Heart LLC
Location: WRB 2007
Workshops repeated:
(see descriptions above from 10 – 11 am)
- A Career in Land Surveying
- Opportunities at UNR to Grow
- Intro to NevadaTeach
10 am – 11:30 am
The Science of Poop: Using Cattle to Fecally Seed Degraded Rangelands
Learn the science behind what and how ruminants eat, how plants they eat are digested, how ingested seeds would be affected in their germination, the ruminant
digestive processes, and how we could use these animals to manage plant inventory
in grazing systems. Cannulated cattle will be used in this workshop to show the
digestive process.
Presented by Dr. Mozart Fonseca, College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural
Resources
Must pre-register by February 28 via your convention registration.
Location: UNR Equestrian Center (Corner of Valley Rd. & Sadleir Way)
The 2023 International Field Ecologist and Range Manager Olympic Games
The golden opportunity to represent your school and go for glory in front of the world! Or, well at least us range types here in Reno! The UNR Rangeland Olympic Games is a coveted competition and test of skill and might, competing to be the best in the west-ern range. Competitors will learn various skill sets common in field ecology and range management, and compete to be the ‘best hand in the land’. Sponsored events can include: 50m Tape Measure Reeling, Biomass Estimation, Navigational Orienteering, Chaining Pin Toss, First-aid Response, and Soil Texturing. Bring the best of yourself and your school colors! Glory at the awards ceremony may be a moment you will hold forever.
Best of luck to all our competitors!
Presented by Rangeland Science Lab – Lucas Phipps and Team, University of Nevada Reno, Rangeland Science
Must pre-register by February 28 via your convention registration.
Location: Knudtsen Resource Center (KRC) 104, 1000 Valley Road, Reno 89512 (see map below)
Drones in Agriculture and Land Management
Learn about the sciences of remote sensing and precision agriculture. Learn about how to get certified to fly drones for agricultural crop and animal monitoring, the skills and abilities needed to process and utilize drone-acquired data, and weather-permitting, watch drone imagery capture live.
Presented by Tracy Shane and Russell Godkin, College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources
Must pre-register by February 28 via your convention registration.
Location: Knudtsen Resource Center (KRC) 105 to start, 1000 Valley Road, Reno 89512 (see map above) – Call Tracy, (775)934-5646, if running late & they are outside.
Human Nutrition & Dietetics
Learn about the nutritional needs of your body and the science behind keeping it healthy. This workshop will include hands-on activities in a lab setting.
Presented by David St. Jules, College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources
Must pre-register by February 28 via your convention registration.
Location: Meet at WRB 2003 and be escorted to the lab classroom.
1:30 – 3 pm
Workshops repeated:
(see descriptions above from 10 – 11 am)
3 pm – 4:30 pm
Service Project
Students will deliver floral arrangements.
Location: EJCH 202
9 am – 12 pm
Service Projects
Students will be able to choose from a variety of projects. Supplies will be provided.
Location: EJCH 202
9 am – 10 am
Let’s ROCK this World
Students will learn how to add value to others in their lives by being the ROCKstars they already are.
Presented by Gracie Murphy – National FFA Eastern Region Vice President
Location: WRB 2003
What YF&R Means To You
Learn more about Young Farmers & Ranchers and how it can help you once you graduate high school.
Presented by Monica Avery/ Simon Solagui/ Sarah Stallard
Location: WRB 2005
Leadership Development
Learn how to grow as a leader with Ember.
Presented by Ember Mendoza, Idaho FFA Association 2022-2023 State Reporter
Location: EJCH 205
10:30 am – 11:30 am
Workshops Repeated:
(see descriptions above from 9-10 am)