Nancy Upham Retires After 34 Years of Service

Nancy Upham made the difficult decision to retire from the Churchill County Mosquito, Vector, and Noxious Weed Abatement District, where she served as manager for 21 years. She officially retired on April 14, 2025, concluding a career that spanned more than three decades.

Upham began working for the district as a seasonal employee in 1991. She became assistant manager in 1994 and was appointed manager in 2004, replacing longtime Mosquito Abatement Supervisor Mike Wargo.

When she stepped into leadership, Upham faced a district with more irrigated acreage, creating greater challenges. Most positions were seasonal and required employees to walk extensively to collect larvae samples from muddy standing water while carrying heavy equipment. In the early 1990s, mineral oil was the primary method used for mosquito control. Today, the district employs a broader range of environmentally sensitive pesticides that are effective against both larvae and adult mosquitoes, and many of the roles are now permanent.

One of the most challenging years of her tenure came in 2017, following a winter of heavy snowfall. The resulting standing water caused a surge in mosquito activity, especially from disease-carrying Culex species. More advanced abatement methods and state support for testing trapped adult mosquitoes helped the district quickly identify problem areas and improve response times.

Upham expressed confidence in the future of the district, saying she believes the agency will continue to explore scientific strategies for controlling mosquito populations and noxious weeds.

Outside of work, Upham has long participated in endurance horse riding. She trains and rides Arabians in long-distance events and now plans to devote more time to this passion. She will also serve as manager of High Desert Rides, which organizes an annual 30- and 50-mile endurance ride in the Stillwater Mountain Range. Additionally, she is exploring a new career working with animals.

Churchill County and the community thank Nancy Upham for her many years of dedication and wish her the best in her next chapter.