Every summer the faculty at NWREC hire students to assist with their field research projects. Over the past several years we have had about 30 students join us to work and learn. Half are usually students studying agricultural or biological sciences at Oregon State University. Others come from various universities — public and private — and community colleges around Oregon and across the U.S. Some students are in still in high school. Most of our students end up working at NWREC for several summers as highly valued members of our team.

This year was no different — except faculty struggled to figure out how they would manage with the COVID restrictions. Using the restricted access policy NWREC put into place last March, masks inside and out, and increased sanitation procedures, we were able to host another great group of students (slightly smaller group of 22) who accomplished incredibly important work for our faculty, the Center, and agriculture in the region. A special thank you to our 2020 students for supporting the work we do at NWREC.