LBCC brings Career Fair to the Valley

WANTED. The ads are on store windows or in the back of newspapers and too often they are even in hiding.

Every college student is on the lookout.

Last week, on April 14, the "Wanted" ads came to LBCC.

The 33rd annual Career Fair filled the Activities Center gym with the roar of many voices. The high heels of well-dressed employees from more than 50 businesses tapped the blue tarp on the floor. The whole gym smelled faintly of the tarp's rubber.

But nervous job seekers didn't seem to notice. They were on the go, searching for the right business, stammering or achieving that perfect introductory speech.

"It's a little confusing," said Patty Evans, a job seeker, "It's like a rat race." She said she should have done more background research before coming. That had been part of the counseling services plan. They had offered sample questions to ask employers, information on the businesses that were there and a list of career planning services.

From looking at the economy it seems that the number of jobs is limited, but many of the businesses were hiring.

Milly Sage, from the Valley West Health Care Center said, "We always have jobs."

T Mobile was looking for retail and customer service representatives.

Edward Jones wanted financial advisers and a branch-office administrator.

At first glance it looks odd that they brought these jobs into a college instead of offering them first to the working adults. It wasn't all because they wanted degrees. None of the jobs from the companies above needed anything but a high school diploma.

Sage knew the answer. She said that she is always offering jobs to the public.

Chrystal Hart, at Edward Jones said, "We just want to reach out to anybody who's ready and willing to go to work."

Carla Raymond, Career Fair coordinator said she advertised hardest at the college but the fair was open to the public because it is the largest one in the valley.  So college students weren't the only ones there. Charity Dillon had the job fair recommended to her by the Department of Human Services as a place to look for a career. 

Kim Hallock from a company called Flakeboard said there was "a lot more people that weren't students...but the mix is good."

Hallock  was pleased with the fair. She said that her company had found some people worth following up.

Wendy Frank with Team Mobile agreed. Her company has been coming to this fair for a long time, "Because," she said, "It's a very consistently busy job fair. We've always been able to hire people."

ATI Wah Chang had a few available positions and found  some people they wanted to follow up with.

The Career fair is to bring businesses and potential employees together. And it was right to have it here because that's what college is about. As Raymond said, "Success means to go to school and get a job. Success is really important at LBCC." 

At-a-glance:
Tips to finding the career that works for you:
1) search the web
2) find out as much as possible about the company you're interested in
3) talk to employees of that company
4) observe the work place
5) ask managers questions that are direct and pointed
6) check out the company's website
7) trust your instincts
--from U.S. news, "7 Ways to find your perfect job"

The Horse Team

Photo courtesy of LBCC Equestrian Team

The stallion snorted at himself in the arena mirror. He danced back and forth on slim dappled legs and suddenly reared, throwing his head back to see over the white wall. The thunder of his voice echoed through the barn.

The stallion was borrowed for  the breeding season at the LBCC Horse Center. The center is too busy to have them here now but this is where the Equestrian Team practices for their horse shows and competitions all over the Northwest. Lately their competion has been quite successful.

But without the horses there wouldn't be a team.

They are Esther and Lola, Hazel and Kadene, Rita and Molly, a Belgian draft mix. Molly weighs almost 2,000 pounds. Kadene is old, 28 years old. Rita was born and trained here at the Horse Center. She was named after the former LB President Rita Cavin.

 The nineteen members of the Equestrian Team practice in the arena where the stallion was being held. Jenny Strooband, their team adviser and the department chair of agricultural science teaches them. During their training season there is one or two practices a week in the white arena on the heavy sand.

The E-Team is training for competitions that the other members of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association in their area host.

They've traveled as far as Canada. Danielle Saunders, a former member, told of a cold early morning during a show there. She said that while watching the expert riders warm up,  "I thought, that's what I want to do, that's what I want to be."

Every year the E-team hosts a show  at the Linn County Expo Center as part of their fund raising. They make up to $9,000.

Much of that money is used to cover travel expenses. E-Team members do not have to pay even for their hotel rooms. When their captain, Cole Newman and rider Halley Beaver went to Texas for the Western semi-finals, their tickets were paid for.

To Newman one of the best memories of riding was when he learned both he and Beaver made it past semi-finals and to nationals in Kentucky. “I was just really excited,” he said “It means we’re one of the top 12 teams in the nation."

"I think it's only going to get better. "

Membership on the E-team is only $35 a year, but they ask their riders to allow at least a $100 because of other expenses. Strooband said compared to the 11 other teams in the region that is cheap. The University of Oregon horse team membership dues are $300.

A limited number of beginners are allowed. You don't even have to own your own horse.

The long clean row of stalls by the arena smells of the horses' breakfast alfalfa. There is a low rumble of munching. Strooband’s favorite horse, a Canadian Warmblood named Oscar, finished his breakfast a little early. He was standing in his stall with a green blanket over his black coat, tall and arrogantly handsome. Oscar is also ridden by the E-team.

After breakfast the horses are let out. There are three acres of pasture, green against the white gate and the red barn. There they play, dance, and eat.

They are ignorant of their destiny. Do horses understand making it to nationals? 

At-a-glance: 
What: LBCC Equestrian Team
Officers: Jenny Strooband, advisor, Cole Newman team president
Where they meet: Horse Center
Contacts: Jenny Strooband, 541.917.4767
For tryouts: email jenny.strooband@linnbenton.edu