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Klamath Community College is moving ahead to offer a beefed up agriculture program.

Keith Duren, department chair of natural resource systems, said the goal is to establish a cohort of 20 students by fall 2009.

"There has been strong interest by some students," he said.

A successful recruiting trip this spring to the annual Future Farmers of American state convention in La Grande turned up many high school students interested in attending KCC. Duren is following up on the contacts he and welding instructor Wayne Scott made at the convention.

Duren also met with high school educators in the Eagle Point and Phoenix area and said they are interested in building a relationship with KCC for agriculture study because Rogue River Community College does not have an agriculture program.

"Once we are able to draw students from out of the county it will strengthen our ability to build a cohort," Duren said.

He acknowledged that part of a successful agriculture program involves having physical resources - including animals.

"I expect in the not too distant future that we will have some breeding stock of some kind," Duren said. "That'll give students a chance to apply what they learn in the classroom in a meaningful way.

"We're discussing all the options and everything is on the table. I'm confident our college leadership is committed to the program and will arrive at the right decision."

KCC President Gerald Hamilton has expressed support for nurturing the agriculture program, although no details about livestock have been determined.

"Agriculture programs are key to the local community and a high priority at KCC," he said.

Duren said Bonanza, Chiloquin, Henley and Lost River high schools have strong curriculums in agriculture, so KCC needs to "up its game" to attract graduates.

"You can't go into it without jumping all the way in," he said.

One of the advantages of attending KCC to study agriculture is an articulation agreement recently reached with Oregon State University. Students can take 98 of the needed 180 credits on the KCC campus before transferring to OSU, where they will have automatic junior standing.

Duren noted the agreement has the potential to save lots of money for students who attend KCC for two years.

"For a family on a budget, that's a big deal," he said. "I feel blessed as a teacher to be able to offer this."

Students who want to pursue the OSU plan would graduate from KCC with an associate's degree in natural resources with an agriculture option. They could go on to pursue degrees in agriculture education or general agriculture at OSU.

"It's a path that leads directly to employment," Duren said.

KCC has received an anonymous donation of $25,000 for scholarships for agriculture students, and the college board of education also earmarked money for scholarships. Those who want more information about the program should contact Stephanie Smith at 880-2275.