The University of Nevada's University Farm, a working farm used to teach college students about farming and agriculture, is under attack. The University's Board of Regents recently voted to have part of the farm rezoned to a light industrial/commercial site. Unless the City Council or University Regents reverse this decision, the 112-year-old farm could be destroyed by commercial development.

The University of Nevada's College of Agriculture is one of the few colleges in America where students can learn at a working farm on campus. With local, sustainable, urban farms just starting to crop up in cities across America, the country desperately needs collegiate agricultural programs like that which could be offered by University Farm.

As a Reno-based small farmer, I know just how important this farm is to the community. The 1140-acre University Farm is a living piece of history, a hub for agricultural research, and a learning center for America's future generation of farmers. University Farm should be treasured as an invaluable community resource--not destroyed to make way for even more development in Reno.

America already loses more than one acre of farmland to development every minute. Let's not let University Farm become another casualty.

This issue will go before the City Council on December 14, 2011, so it's important to voice support now for conserving all of University Farm. Please sign this petition urging University of Nevada officials and the Reno City Council to protect University Farm.