FARM II is becoming a reality
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, January 9th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Work has finally begun on building Blue Mountain Community College’s FARM II. The facility west of the Pendleton Convention Center will contain classrooms and an indoor rodeo arena. Construction was to have begun right after the Pendleton Round-Up, but was delayed while tax questions were resolved.
BMCC President Mark Browning praised Bouten Construction of Richland, Washington saying the crews are working hard in an effort to close the gap on the delay. BMCC did not get the full amount it had requested from the Oregon Legislature, but Browning said what they did receive will cover the cost of the scaled-down project.
“We have enough to complete the project,” he said. “There are some things that we’d like to have and need to have to make the facility a little more robust. We’re working with our other partners, the city of Pendleton and the Round-Up, on those.”
Now the project can only be delayed by labor shortages or bad weather, Browning said. He is not sure if FARM II will be complete in time for the 2024 Round-Up.
“To be determined,” he said. “A lot of that’s going to be weather determined and it gets back to work force. Stay tuned for that, but we’re moving.”
Graphic from Bouten Construction
