By Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
Bakersfield College Athletics will celebrate Kern County’s vital industries at Energy & Ag Night on Saturday, Nov. 2. This year’s event builds on the traditional Oil & Ag Night football game by expanding to include all energy sectors, highlighting the role these industries play in the local economy.
According to Matt Riley, managing and marketing professional at BC, this name change reflects the expanding energy sector in Kern County.
“We wanted to be all-inclusive of the staples of Kern County, the two industries that are kind of the backbone of the county,” Riley said.
Riley explained that the annual football game highlights Kern County’s essential industries and aligns with the interests of BC students.
“A lot of students and student-athletes who go to BC are going to end up in those fields and are taking classes involved in those avenues and fields of study, and so I just think it makes a good connection to highlight that at BC,” Riley said.
For instance, in the 2022-2023 academic year, 5.5% of the 40,527 students were agriculture majors from several pathways such as ag business, plant science, environmental horticulture, forestry and natural resources, mechanized agriculture, and animal science.
Additionally, BC’s Energy and Ag Academy and 21st Energy Center underscore the college’s commitment to fostering growth in these industries.
Energy & Ag Night is set for Saturday, Nov. 2 at 6 p.m., with the Renegades facing off against Ventura College. Agriculture and energy industry members will enjoy free admission to the game by presenting an employee ID or business card.
As part of BC’s Energy and Ag Night, the annual Ag & Oil Tailgate will take place from 3 p.m. until kickoff at 6 p.m. in a parking lot near the new dorm construction on Mount Vernon Ave. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and refreshments will be provided — sponsored by CRC and the Kern Energy Foundation — to celebrate the contributions of the agriculture and oil industries.