One moment you’re feeding, cleaning, and preparing your sheep to be shown. The next moment you’re learning skills needed to be a drone pilot from a Baker High School student who is a licensed drone pilot herself. This is just a sample of what grade school and middle school students can anticipate at the Harney County Fair this year when High Desert Partnership brings Baker Technical Institute (BTI) and their Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) mobile learning platform – including their heavy equipment simulator trailer — to town.

Friday and Saturday, Sept. 7-8, BTI will provide students in grades 1-8 with hands-on learning opportunities in a lab setting. This hands-on learning will apply what they have learned at school, providing the critical link to understanding why they learn skills like math and science. While observing and participating in experiments, the students will connect what they’re experiencing with careers and can start dreaming about what they want to be when they “grow up”.

Observe a drone demonstration while challenging your math skills, create a dirt

baby planter while learning plant cycles, experiment with pop rock candy and receive a chemistry lesson, and get hands-on with heavy equipment simulators. Find a schedule of the sessions at http://highdesertpartnership.org/news-events/harney-county-fair-fun.html

BTI was last here June 7 and was a big hit with the students.

Slater Elementary School student Scott Graham said, “It was AWESOME! The big trailer has this video game where I got to sit and drive a backhoe, and the seat moved my body around like a fair ride. So cool! I can’t wait to drive it again at the fair!”

High Desert Partnership and its Youth Changing The Community collaborative is excited to have BTI at the fair.

“Having BTI here offers a unique experience for our youth to participate in the hands-on training they provide. It’s fun for the kids and enlightening as they are introduced to career options they may not have know even exist,” Brenda Smith, executive director of the High Desert Partnership said.

Having BTI at the fair is one effort to engage youth with experiences that inspire self-worth, pride, and a strong work ethic. The career connected learning that BTI offers has direct correlation toward developing skills that transfer to employment; a trained workforce equals a healthy business environment.

“We are really looking forward to working with the youth in Harney County and hopefully sparking an interest in learning that comes from students using STEAM skills in our lab that they learned at school. Engaging students is the key to successful futures for the students and the community. We are focused on helping rural communities in Eastern Oregon thrive and positively impacting economic development,” President of Baker Technical Institute Doug Dalton said.

To participate in these sessions with Baker Technical Institute it’s recommended families sign their kids up in advance to secure a spot. Registration forms were provided through schools, or parents can call Becki with the High Desert Partnership at 541-573-7820 with any questions and to register.