Big Bend CC agriculture program receives donation

MOSES LAKE — The agriculture program at Big Bend Community College will have an additional $2,000 for equipment for its brand-new plant and soil science lab. The “rural community grant” was awarded to the program by Northwest Farm Credit Services.

Dany Cavadini, a credit officer with the company, said the grant program is “a great way to give back to our community.” The agriculture program is one of those moving into the new Workforce Education Building, which is scheduled to open this fall.

The new building “will provide students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience,” Cavadini said. “Which is extremely valuable to the success of BBCC students and our community.”

Big Bend Community College Foundation Executive Director LeAnne Parton said the support the college receives from its business partners like NWFCS is “helping us to provide critical skills, certifications and hands-on learning to our students.”

The new Workforce Education Building will provide about 129,000 square feet for many of the college’s technical education programs.

Northwest Farm Credit Services is “an $11 billion financial cooperative providing financing and related services to farmers, ranchers, agribusiness, commercial fishermen, timber producers, rural homeowners and crop insurance customers in Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Alaska,” wrote Matt Killebrew, BBCC’s Director of Communications.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com