BMCC’s Precision Agriculture Lab goes mobile

PENDLETON, OR – After being awarded the SPECA Grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Blue Mountain Community College has started the process of mobilizing their advanced Precision Agriculture program, the first of its kind in Oregon. The SPECA grant supports two-year postsecondary educational institutions in creating and strengthening pathways for K-12 students to pursue degrees in the food and agriculture sciences.

The mobilization of the Precision Ag Lab gives BMCC the ability to enhance educational opportunities of regional dualcredit programs, participate in community education activities, strengthen recruitment efforts, and provide local indus- try assistance. The grant also provides funds to aid in the development of applicable curriculum at the K-12 level.

Andrew Leggett, Precision Agriculture instructor was instrumental in the success of the grant, “This curriculum can be used by a high school teacher to compliment the Oregon FFA Precision Agriculture module, which gives students an opportunity to earn dual credit for my Intro. to Precision Agriculture course at BMCC.”

The Precision Ag Program is now equipped with a 20-foot enclosed trailer, John Deere Gator, Generator, and TV monitor that can transform any location in the region into an advanced technology open-air classroom. The monitor also gives the ability to connect to the display on the Gator, allowing large groups of people to see what the operator on the Gator is seeing.

“I am excited at the possibilities this Mobile Precision Agriculture Lab offers as both a recruiting and education tool,” says Leggett. “With the ability to carry computers, drones, and a UTV equipped with GPS, autosteer, a section-controlled, variable rate sprayer, I can effectively take my classroom and labs on the road to offer handson education about an exciting and growing career field.” The mobile laboratory will be operational in summer 2023. For more information, contact Kaley Cope, Director of Marketing and Communications at kcope@bmcc.edu or 541278-5774.

BEO collect diapers for Sweet Potato’s Closet

Heppner, Oregon, (February 21, 2023) The Bank of Eastern Oregon branches in Arlington, Boardman, Irrigon, and Hermiston are collecting diapers to donate to Sweet Potato’s Closet in Hermiston, This non-profit organization, located at 167 E. Main Street in Hermiston, collects items to donate to foster families. Sweet Potato’s Closet has grown from initially collecting infant and children’s clothing and personal items, to accepting furniture and beds for foster families. These Bank of Eastern Oregon branches will be collecting diapers and pullups for them through March 17, 2023.

For further information on Sweet Potato’s Closet visit its website at https:// www.sweetpotatoscloset.org. About BEO Bancorp

BEO Bancorp is the holding company for Bank of Eastern Oregon. It operates 20 branches and four loan production offices in 11 eastern Oregon and four eastern Washington counties, and one western Idaho county. Branches are located in Arlington, Ione, Heppner, Condon, Irrigon, Boardman, Burns, John Day, Prairie City, Fossil, Moro, Enterprise, Athena, Hermiston, and La Grande, OR; and Colfax, Dayton, LaCrosse, Pasco, and Pomeroy WA; loan production offices are located in Ontario, Pendleton, and Madras, OR, and Caldwell, ID. Bank of Eastern Oregon also operates a mortgage division and operates the Washington locations under the name of Bank of Eastern Washington. The bank’s website is https:// www.beobank.com.

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Located at Port Of Morrow, 2 Marine Drive Boardman,OR 97818

Fridays February 6th-April 10th

To request an appointment, call: (458) 300-3974

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On March 15th, the Oregon Warmline will be open 24/ 7! Anytime you want someone to talk with, the peer supporters on the Oregon Warmline are here for you: 1-800-698-2392

The David Romprey Oregon Warmline is a peer-run program of Community Counseling Solutions and we are available from 8 am to 12 am every day.