Blinn to open new agricultural sciences building on Thursday, Feb. 20
Facility will allow Blinn to introduce new award pathways
February 19, 2020
The Blinn College District invites the community to join it for the grand opening of a new Brenham Campus agricultural sciences building at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20.
The new, 6,000-square-foot building will allow additional space for hands-on learning activities while accommodating the continued growth of Blinn’s Agricultural Sciences Program. Located at 1403 Old Mill Creek Road beside the W.J. “Bill” Rankin Agricultural Complex, the new building will include a livestock demonstration room, tack room, farrowing house, livestock pens, and a livestock chute.
“We always stress hands-on learning opportunities in our courses, but the new building gives us capabilities we have never had before,” said Bryn Behnke, Assistant Dean for Agricultural Sciences. “We can allow students to work with more animals at a time and cover the material in greater detail. We also can establish new academic lab courses and new technical courses. It transforms the department and adds to the foundation we have built.”
The facility will allow Blinn to introduce new award pathways; offer laboratory courses in animal science, agronomy, and horticulture; and expand space for summer camps and continuing education.
Beginning in Fall 2020 or Spring 2021, Blinn plans to introduce a new 60-hour Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Livestock and Range Management. Students on the new AAS degree path will study the agriculture industry, animal science, agronomy, horticulture, agricultural economics, and animal reproduction. As part of the degree plan, students would participate in an internship in animal/livestock husbandry and production.
“The AAS benefits students seeking an in-depth knowledge of agriculture with specific courses in range and livestock management,” Behnke said.
With the 20,200-square-foot Rankin Complex serving as its hub, Blinn offers agricultural science classes in Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, and Sealy, and has one of the most active extracurricular programs in the state, including a livestock judging team, Agriculture Club, and Ag Mechanics Club. For more information, visit www.blinn.edu/agricultural-sciences.
