LCCC earns regional honor for agriculture program

CHEYENNE, Wyoming – The Laramie County Community College Ag & Equine Pathway was selected as the Region I winner of the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE), Outstanding Postsecondary Agriculture Program Award. Region 1 includes Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Alaska and Hawaii. 

NAAE places high value on continuing education in agriculture. The Outstanding Postsecondary Agriculture Program Award recognizes exemplary postsecondary institutions and full-time young farmer and adult ag ed programs. LCCC’s recognition for this award is based on its program mission, curricula, leadership development, partnerships, marketing and professional growth.  

Lindsey Freeman, Ag & Equine Program director, said the Pathway is on an upward trajectory with increased enrollment and plenty of examples of student success. 

“This is a team effort from all faculty and students in the Pathway,” she said. “It is wonderful that we were selected to receive this award because it gives recognition for the hard our Pathway has put in.”

The Pathway’s programs include ag business, animal science, equine management, natural resource management, ag production technology and more. There are also plans to expand the number of programs offered next year. 

“We’re proud of the recognition earned by our faculty, and the vote of confidence it represents from their high school partners in Albany, Carbon and Laramie counties,” said Kari Brown-Herbst, LCCC’s senior vice president for Academic Affairs. “We will continue to develop highly-regarded programming in our commitment to prepare students for university transfer and for successful careers in the agricultural sector.”

The National Association of Agricultural Educators is a federation of state agricultural educator associations with more than 9,000 members. The members are involved in school-based agricultural education at any level, from middle school through postsecondary, and state and national agricultural education leadership.

The NAAE advocates for agricultural education, provides professional development for agricultural educators, and works to recruit and retain agricultural educators in the profession. 

For more information about the Ag & Equine Pathway or LCCC in general, visit lccc.wy.edu/ag or call 307.778.1212.