WINNEMUCCA —Tourism officials from across the state were in Winnemucca this week for the state’s premiere rural tourism conference.

The annual gathering of rural tourism partners returned to Winnemucca for its 20th anniversary from Wednesday, March 24, through Friday, March 26; Winnemucca was the site of the first Rural Roundup in 1990.

Nevada Lt. Gov. Brian K. Krolicki said the conference continues to be a mainstay for Nevada rural tourism.

“Rural Roundup started in Winnemucca 20 years ago, and while many of the faces and issues have changed over the years, the conference continues to be a vital tool for our rural areas,” Krolicki.

“For many who attend, this conference is the one time each year they can learn new tactics to market their areas or events, and enjoy the camaraderie of their colleagues throughout the state.”

The conference kicked off Wednesday with an optional golf tournament, skeet shoot and wine walk, all designed to introduce attendees to what Winnemucca has to offer. The opening reception, called the “Fun-a-Mucca” Carnival, showcased a variety of carnival games, live music and local food.

Thursday featured a much-anticipated presentation by Google travel expert Ryan Denny, who shared some “quick and easy” tricks to make the most of online marketing. Other morning sessions included “evaluating your Web site”; a workshop on how to apply for NCOT rural-marketing grants; a session on how to build itineraries; and a presentation by NCOT’s public relations representative in Germany on marketing to international visitors.

Thursday afternoon was filled with sessions about social media and online searches; maximizing marketing budgets; developing a visitor profile; and building relationships with tour operators.

The day’s educational program capped off with a presentation by Roger Brooks of Destination Development. Brooks has evaluated many Nevada towns and is a perennial favorite at Rural Roundup.

The annual VolunTourism awards were presented at dinner Thursday night when the recipient of the June Stannard Memorial Scholarship was announced.

Stannard had retired as operations manager for the Winnemucca Convention Center when she died in February 2008. The scholarship memorializes her dedication and zeal for travel and tourism, which epitomize the rural Nevada spirit.

Friday morning will include a roundtable discussion with NCOT managers on what’s new in state tourism. The conference is set to conclude Friday morning with the regular quarterly meeting of the Nevada Commission on Tourism.

Winnemucca Convention and Visitors Authority Director Kim Petersen and his staff have been preparing for Rural Roundup 2010 for many months.

“It’s great to have our tourism friends and neighbors from across the state join us in Winnemucca for this conference,” said Petersen. He noted that this year’s theme, “Celebrating One Great Ride,” is pertinent for all rural tourism partners who have worked with NCOT and each other over the past two decades to maximize their potential.

“We feel really good about where we’re at, thanks to our combined efforts, and we’re happy to welcome everyone to Winnemucca for what we hope will kick off another 20 years of great networking.”

For more information on the WCVA’s participation in Rural Roundup 2010, please call the agency at (775) 623-5071.