Blue Mountain Community College has been named one of the six best community college agriculture programs in the nation by the National Association of Agricultural Educators.

On a 100-acre farm in Pendleton, 115 students are pursuing an array of three associates degrees and two college certificates. The facilities also are equipped with a livestock pavilion, animal nutrition center, farm shop, food processing center and three greenhouses. The national association touted the college for promoting hands-on learning and ensuring it is the primary focus of the program.

This award just confirms what northeast Oregon already knew; that is the fact that Blue Mountain Community College has a superb agriculture program and we are very pleased to be recognized, said John Turner, BMCC president.

The National Association of Agricultural Educators is made up of more than 7,650 teachers from all over the United States. Blue Mountain Community College received the Region 1 award for Outstanding Agriculture Program. Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Montana, and Arizona comprise the region.

In 2013, the college plans to offer a one-year veterinary technician course and later turn that into a two-year veterinary technician transfer degree. Equine science is another area the college would like to dive into by building an equine event and veterinary center.

Degrees offered in the agriculture department include associate of applied science in agriculture business, agriculture production of crops, livestock or both, and an associate of science transfer degree. Certificates available include pest management or beef production.

Blue Mountains agriculture program will be recognized at the associations national convention at the end of November in Atlanta.

Contact Anna Willard at awillard@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4536.