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July 2024

45th Annual Big Benefit Auction tickets on sale now!


Help us celebrate our Sapphire Anniversary! Tickets for the 45th Annual Barton Community College Foundation Big Benefit Auction are available through August 12th. The auction will take place on Saturday, August 24 at the Great Bend Events Center.


Tickets are $50 or $400 per table of eight. Seating is limited, and no tickets will be sold at the door, so those interested are encouraged to reserve their tickets early. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for the silent auction and Golden Ticket sales. We have some fantastic items and experiences lined up for our silent and live auctions, and we'll be honoring community members Barry and Monica Bowers with the Old Bill Honorarium for their incredible dedication and support. This years auction is underwritten by UMB Wealth Management, Craig & Jolene Biggs, Nex-Tech, Spectrum CPA Partners LLC, and Edward Jones Financial Advisors; Jim Armatys, Todd Armatys, Jim Vopat, and Kris Sundahl. Champion Sponsors for this year are Chris and Julie Spray.


The Big Benefit Auction is the most successful and longest-running fundraiser for the Barton Foundation. The money raised from the event supports academic scholarships, along with enhancements to programs and facilities that positively impact the learning experience of Barton students. Join us for an evening filled with excitement, laughter, and making a difference!


Tickets can be purchased by calling the Barton Foundation office at (620) 792-9306, by sending an email to foundation@bartonccc.edu, or by clicking HERE.

Foundation Board Social


We had so much fun meeting with the Foundation Board Members during the board retreat at Camp Aldrich. We want to extend our gratitude to Rob Munden for serving on our board and sending him well wishes as he exits his term. Thank you Rob for everything!


We would also like to welcome new Foundation Board Members Dr. Amanda Hoffman and Brad Shirer for joining the board! We are also excited to congratulate Steve Webster for extending his term!


To view our awesome Foundation Board of Directors, click HERE.

Shafer Art Gallery's Farm-Centric "Family Day"


The Shafer Art Gallery hosted its first annual "Family Day" last Wednesday to showcase the gallery. The event focused on a mix of both agriculture and farming, as well as art, which coincides with the gallery's current exhibit, "American Pastoral."


Click HERE to see photo from the event.

Upcoming Events

July 17

Ag & Transportation Complex Ribbon Cutting

Ag & Transportation Complex, 4pm, open house 5-6pm

The Agriculture and Transportation Complex is complete, and we are hosting a dedication, ribbon cutting, and open house on July 17. Dedication and ribbon cuttings take place at 4pm, with an open house from 5-6pm.

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July 25

Great Bend Chamber Coffee

Best Western Angus Inn Meeting Room, 9am, program at 9:30am

We are hosting the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce for a program at the Best Western Angus Inn Meeting Room to kick off ticket sales for the 45th Annual Big Benefit Auction! Join us for refreshments and prizes.

We are on Facebook!


Check out our brand new Facebook Page! Here we will be sharing all of the awesome things we get to do in the Barton Foundation, as well as awesome upcoming events!

Visit our Facebook Page!

#everydayisaholiday

National Snake Day is celebrated on July 16th!

Every year on July 16th, reptile enthusiasts, conservationists, and nature lovers across the globe come together to celebrate National Snake Day. This day is dedicated to recognizing the incredible diversity, ecological importance, and often misunderstood nature of snakes. Whether you find them intriguing or intimidating, there's no denying that snakes play a vital role in our ecosystems and have a rich history worth exploring.


Snakes are an integral part of many ecosystems, serving as both predator and prey. They help control populations of rodents and other small animals, which can otherwise become pests. By keeping these populations in check, snakes contribute to the balance of nature and the health of habitats.


Snakes often suffer from a negative reputation, largely due to fear and misunderstanding. National Snake Day provides an opportunity to dispel common myths and educate the public about the true nature of these animals. For instance, while it's true that some snakes are venomous, the majority are harmless to humans. Learning to respect their environment and observe in a distance is the key to coexistence!


Bonus #everydayisaholiday: Yesterday was National Donna Day!

We are thrilled that June 15th was National Donna Day and we are super excited to celebrate our very own, Donna McCormick, Business and Office Manager! We want to thank her for all that she has done as she has been with the college for over 30 years! Thank you, Donna!

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SNAKES


They have a very big family

Recent counts recorded around 3,789 snake species, which makes them the second largest group of reptiles after lizards. They are divided into 30 different families and subfamilies.


They are "solar-powered"

While snakes are known as 'cold-blooded' creatures, this doesn't mean their blood is actually cold. They are actually "ectothermic," which means that their body temperature is variable and regulated by external sources like the sun to warm their body.


They don't have eyelids

Can you sleep with your eyes open? Snakes cant even blink! They actually have a thin membrane attached to each eye that protects them. The membrane is called the 'brille,' which in German means glasses.


They smell with their tongues

While they do have nostrils, they are not used to smell. Instead, they have what is called a Jacobson's Organ in the roof of their mouth and use their tongue to smell.


They have very poor table manners

Snakes are unable to chew their food and have to swallow their food whole. They are able to do this because of the flexibility of their lower jaws, and can allow them to eat animals who are 75%-100% larger than their own head!