BMCC celebrates grand opening of its equine center
Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Blue Mountain Community College President Mark Browning discusses the completion of the new Blue Mountain Equine Center on April 28, 2025, while giving a tour of the facility in Pendleton. (Yasser Marte/East Oregonian)
Grandstands stretch along the left side of the new Blue Mountain Equine Center, offering spectators a clear view of the action on April 28, 2025, in Pendleton. (Yasser Marte/East Oregonian)
A gate encircles the arena floor, which is covered in rodeo dirt to provide safe, stable footing for both horses and athletes at the new Blue Mountain Equine Center on April 28, 2025, in Pendleton. (Yasser Marte/East Oregonian)
Just inside the corner entrance, a concession stand is ready to offer snacks and drinks during public events at the new Blue Mountain Equine Center on April 28, 2025, in Pendleton. (Yasser Marte/East Oregonian)
Outside the facility, gates allow horses and cows to enter the arena at the new Blue Mountain Equine Center on April 28, 2025, in Pendleton. (Yasser Marte/East Oregonian)
PENDLETON — Blue Mountain Community College is about to unveil its latest faculty.
BMCC hosts a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, April 30, 6-7 p.m. for its new Blue Mountain Equine Center at 125 SW 18th St. The event includes self-guided tours and opportunities for community members to learn about the facility.
The state-of-the-art center will serve as the new home for the BMCC Rodeo Team and provide a hub for hands-on learning in agriculture and equine sciences.
BMCC President Mark Browning described the completion of the facility as “monumental.” He said the project dates back nearly 20 years, and the college still has notes from conversations in 2006 when the idea first began to take shape.
“To see this moment finally arrive and to be able to use the facility in so many different ways is monumental,” Browning said. “It launches us into the next chapter in an incredible way.”
The new facility will offer students a different experience and perspective, he said. The agriculture faculty are exploring a variety of ideas for future use of the space, with more developments to come.
Pendleton committed $150,000 and donated parcels of property to support the campus’s future needs. The city also worked with partners to solicit funding from the state of Oregon. BMCC secured $13 million in grant funds for the arena’s construction.
Browning noted that after initial approval, state funding was pulled but later reinstated. He credited close collaboration between the three major partners—the city of Pendleton, the college and the Round-Up—over the past three years with making the project a reality.
A gate encircles the arena floor, which is covered in rodeo dirt to provide safe, stable footing forhorses and athletes at the new Blue Mountain Equine Center on April 28, 2025, in Pendleton. (Yasser Marte/East Oregonian)
The new facility and space
The building is designed for equine-related instruction, demonstrations and competitions.
Agriculture students can use the space to certify proficiency in drone flight and equipment operation, and when weather conditions prevent outdoor aerial training, students are able to train indoors.
“It just gives us a lot of different opportunities,” Browning said. “It’s a huge classroom that we can use in a multitude of different ways. There will be uses of this facility three years, five years from now, that hasn’t even really crossed the frontier yet, but we’ll be ready.”
Before entering the arena, visitors can stop by the ticket window to purchase entry for upcoming events. Just inside the corner entrance, a concession stand is ready to offer snacks and drinks during public gatherings.
A grandstand stretches along the building’s left side, giving spectators a clear view of the action. To the right, a gate encircles the arena floor, which is layered with rodeo dirt — essential for providing safe, stable footing for both horses and athletes.
The arena meets regulation size for rodeo standards, making it suitable for top-tier competitions, Browning said. Designed for year-round use, it includes ventilation, heating and fan systems to ensure a comfortable environment for spectators and participants alike.
Bright lights illuminate the space, while an announcer’s booth and an elevated scoring area allow judges to oversee 4-H shows and other events from above. A video scoreboard enhances the spectator experience, providing live updates and visuals during rodeos and other competitions.
Toward the far back side of the arena, a concrete slab, hydrant and other fixtures accommodate youth livestock shows. The setup allows participants to wash and prepare animals indoors, avoiding the need to take them outside, through the dirt and back in again.
“It’s not just Pendleton. It’s not just Umatilla County—it’s a regional draw,” Browning said. “No facility like this exists in the Northwest. While other indoor arenas exist, none match the size or features of this one. This facility will attract visitors from across the region, and we’re quite proud to be part of that.”
The space will also host future events, including the annual Cattle Barons Weekend and other regional rodeo competitions in the coming years.
Browning said some events previously held elsewhere can now move into the new facility, freeing up the convention center and other local venues for additional opportunities.
Community members are welcome to use the facility when it is not scheduled for classes or college events. On available dates, the space can be booked for public use through the Pendleton Convention Center or the BMEC website, which handle logistics and scheduling.
He emphasized that while the equine center is a Blue Mountain Community College facility primarily serving educational purposes, it is also available to serve the community.
Browning expressed gratitude to BMCC, the city of Pendleton, the Pendleton Round-Up, Happy Canyon, InterMountain ESD, the Port of Umatilla and the Umatilla County commissioners.
“This truly has been a collective partnership, community effort that people simply would not give up on,” Browning said. “As the president of college, I’m honored that we can be the major home for this and a driving part of it. I am really excited to see what this is gonna grow into in the community.”
For more information, to stay updated on upcoming events, or to book the facility for a future event, visit the center’s website.
Yasser Marte is a reporter for the East Oregonian. Contact him at 541-966-0837 or ymarte@eastoregonian.com.
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