Linn-Benton Community College took a shovel to the dirt last week to officially begin construction on a new agricultural center that promises to transform how students learn farming and livestock management in the mid-Willamette Valley.
About 75 people gathered for the May 22 groundbreaking ceremony, including agricultural industry representatives, students, faculty and local leaders who have championed the project as essential for addressing regional workforce shortages.
The facility, funded through $8 million in state appropriations and matching bond funds approved by Linn and Benton county voters in 2022, will span 53 acres and house multiple livestock species including beef cattle, sheep, swine and horses. Plans also call for a multipurpose animal science complex, classroom building with wet laboratories, and pasture space for hands-on learning.
Currently, LBCC’s ag students must drive up to 40 minutes off-campus to complete required laboratory work at local farms. Officials said the new center will eliminate those travel barriers and provide on-site learning opportunities.
“When students learn how to manage livestock, fix an irrigation system, repair fencing or operate equipment, they’re not just learning important technical skills,” said Jenny Strooband, chair of LBCC’s Agricultural Sciences program. “They’re learning problem-solving, resilience, hard work and responsibility.”
State Reps. Sarah Finger McDonald and Shelly Boshart Davis spoke at the ceremony about the center’s potential to strengthen Oregon’s agricultural workforce. McDonald, who holds a doctorate in horticulture, shared that her father wished he had pursued the same educational path after seeing what agricultural education taught her.
Boshart Davis, who works in agriculture near the future center site, praised LBCC’s livestock judging team as “the most competitive community college team west of the Rockies.” The team attracts students from Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, Montana and California.
Steven Broncheau, executive director of the LBCC Foundation, described the project as more than just a building during his remarks.
“It’s a launchpad for generations of students who will feed our communities, steward our land, and drive innovation in agriculture across Oregon and beyond,” Broncheau said. “Together, we will harvest hope — hope for students, hope for farmers and hope for our collective future.”
LCC President Lisa Avery highlighted the collaborative funding effort that made the project possible, noting the combination of state funding, local bond support and community engagement.
LBCC is the only community college in the region offering animal science and equine science programs with direct transfer pathways to Oregon State University. The LBCC Foundation continues fundraising through a $6 million capital campaign that includes naming opportunities.
Construction is expected to begin in late spring or early summer, with Phase 1 completion anticipated in late 2026.
More information about the project and construction updates are available at linnbenton.edu/ag-center.