Fallon earned statewide recognition at this year’s Rural Roundup in Elko, where Visit Fallon was named Best Business Partner for the Pony Express Territory. The award highlighted the community’s growing influence in Nevada’s rural tourism strategy.
The annual conference, hosted by Travel Nevada from April 21-23, brought together tourism and community leaders from across the state. Fallon’s delegation included representatives from the Fallon Chamber, city leadership, and local tourism officials, reflecting one of the strongest community showings at the event.
Visit Fallon’s award recognized the city’s consistent leadership in presentations, panels, and regional planning efforts. Director of Tourism and Special Events Jane Moon and City Councilwoman Kelly Frost also spoke during the conference’s final day, representing Fallon before a statewide audience and reinforcing the city’s role in shaping tourism discussions.
Director of Tourism and Special Events Jane Moon noted that Fallon’s growing tourism efforts “would not be possible without the leadership of Mayor Ken Tedford, whose support for local tourism includes a commitment to helping it grow beyond the city and county.”
Agritourism was a major topic throughout the event. Fallon was represented directly on the panel “Agritourism: The What and the Why,” where two of the four speakers were local residents. Blane Merkley of the Nevada Department of Agriculture and Kelli Kelly of the Nevada Small Business Development Center outlined how agritourism connects agricultural production with visitor experiences. The session focused on reducing marketing barriers so producers can concentrate on their operations while still benefiting from tourism.
Conference data underscored the importance of rural destinations. Roughly 40 percent of outdoor recreation’s economic impact occurs in rural counties, even though those areas make up only a small share of Nevada’s population. For Fallon, the findings align with ongoing efforts to attract visitors through agriculture, outdoor recreation, and community events.
Travel Nevada officials encouraged rural communities to actively promote their assets to ensure they are included in statewide marketing campaigns. That message carries immediate relevance for Fallon as signature events such as the Cantaloupe Festival continue to anchor local tourism. The festival was nominated for Best Event within the Pony Express Territory, signaling growing statewide visibility.
Fallon Chamber representatives, including Executive Director Lucy Carnahan, board members Ava Case and Shania Brown, and Ambassador Jo Petteruti, participated in the Rural Roundup bus and familiarization tour ahead of the conference. The tour included stops at Rye Patch State Recreation Area, Winnemucca’s downtown murals, and the Battle Mountain Cookhouse Museum. Board member Merlene Ward joined the group in Elko.
Experience levels among Fallon attendees ranged from first-time participants to long-time conference veterans. The mix reflected both continuity and new engagement within the community’s tourism leadership.
Across the three-day event, the message to rural communities was consistent. Those that embrace their distinct culture, landscape, and people are the ones gaining momentum in Nevada’s tourism economy. Fallon’s reputation for leading that effort was evident throughout the conference and affirmed by its statewide recognition.
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