Things I Didn’t Know

For 36 years, I thought I knew Fallon pretty well.

It turns out I knew my part of Fallon pretty well.

For 35 of those years, I was a public school teacher. I knew the schools. I knew teachers, administrators, parents, kids, ballgames, concerts, graduations, meetings, fundraisers, and all the other things that make up school life in a small town.

But that was pretty much my world.

I spent my days in a classroom. When school was over, there were papers to grade and lessons to plan. A lot of weekends were spent in my room doing exactly that. Teaching wasn't just my job; for a very long time, it was the world I lived in.

Since coming to work at the newspaper, I have discovered there is a whole lot of Fallon I knew nothing about.

For one thing, I didn't know what a Chamber of Commerce actually did.

Of course, I knew Fallon had one. I knew what a Chamber of Commerce was, or at least I thought I did. I suppose I pictured ribbon cuttings and business lunches.

Then I met Lucy Carnahan.

And then I started meeting all the other people around her.

There is a board of directors and there are Chamber ambassadors, volunteers from Chamber businesses who give their time to help with events, support other members, and connect businesses with the Chamber.

I had no idea.

I didn't know how much the Chamber does to support local businesses, help people make connections, organize events, answer questions from people who are new to town, or help someone figure out who they need to talk to.

Then I discovered there is even more going on in that building.

There is CEDA, the Churchill Entrepreneur Development Association, and the Nevada Small Business Development Center. And there is Kelli Kelly.

Kelli is the Agriculture and Food Systems Business Advisor for the Nevada Small Business Development Center here in Fallon. Before working at the newspaper, I didn't know we had this kind of help available here.

Someone can have an idea for a business and actually go talk to people who can help them figure out what to do next.

The Small Business Development Center works with existing businesses and people who are just getting started. They can help with business plans, marketing, financing, market research, and many of the things someone needs to know before opening a business.

Kelli specializes in agriculture and food systems. She works with farmers, ranchers, food producers, and people trying to navigate the rules for cottage foods and other locally produced products.

That one really surprised me.

Someone can be making something in a kitchen in Churchill County and wondering if they could actually sell it, and there is someone right here in Fallon who can help them figure that out.

I had no idea.

I find myself saying that a lot these days.

I didn't know how many people here serve on boards or volunteer their time. I didn't know how many meetings were happening or how many people were working on projects and events while I was in my classroom grading papers.

I wasn't disconnected from Fallon. I was very connected to one part of it. I spent my career with kids and families, and I wouldn't trade that.

I just didn't know about all these other people.

The newspaper has changed that. Now I get to meet them. I get to ask what they do and, probably more often than I should admit, say, "I didn't know that."

After 36 years in Fallon, I am finding out how much I still have to learn about this place.

And I have a feeling I'm not done yet.