Ag at BMCC in Pendleton gets big boost from industry partnership

Published 9:00 pm Monday, October 26, 2026

PENDLETON — Blue Mountain Community College announced on Monday, Oct. 26, it received nearly $50,000 in contributions from an agricultural industry partnership that will benefit students.

Valley Irrigation, Threemile Canyon Farms and RiverTech Irrigation teamed up to bring advanced irrigation technology and new learning opportunities to the college’s Pendleton campus, where a 100-acre farm serves as a living classroom where students learn about managing irrigation systems, growing crops, feeding livestock and more.

According to the announcement, the companies provided three Valley ICON 10 control panels, a variable rate irrigation system, an upgrade to AgSense 365 remote management software and Valley Pump Command. Together, the technologies give BMCC greater control distributing water across its fields, when irrigation equipment operates and how to efficiently use water and energy.

The variable rate irrigation system allows water application to be tailored to different areas of a field, helping reduce runoff and soil erosion. Valley Pump Command automatically adjusts pump operation based on water demand, reducing unnecessary energy use and equipment wear. And AgSense 365 allows for monitoring and control of irrigation systems from a phone, tablet or computer.

Blue Mountain reported an alumnus, Harry Bither, now irrigation manager at Threemile Canyon Farms, initiated the improvements. Bither contacted RiverTech Irrigation, a local Valley Irrigation dealer, which then worked with Valley Irrigation to help secure the new equipment.

The college’s relationship with Valley Irrigation dates back decades. In the early 1990s, Mike Hawman helped raise funds for the college’s full-circle irrigation pivot. Years later, his son, Kevin, continued those efforts as a BMCC student, raising money to replace older handline and wheel line systems with additional pivot and linear irrigation equipment. When the project fell short of its fundraising goal, Valley Irrigation donated the remaining equipment needed to complete the upgrades.

BMCC agriculture instructor Drew Leggett in the announcement praised Bither and the trio of ag companies.

“These donations keep BMCC at the forefront of irrigation technology, keep our curriculum relevant and better prepare our students for today’s and tomorrow’s workforce needs,” according to Leggett.

The connection between BMCC and Threemile Canyon Farms goes beyond this project. Some of Leggett’s former students have gone on to work for Bither. For Leggett, according to the college, building and maintaining those connections is an important part of preparing students for careers in the industry.