Washington State University and the Pullman community welcome its students every fall with the National Lentil Festival on Aug. 16, often the first American cultural experience international students have at WSU.
As Pullman prepares for the festival, local organizers say the event serves as both a community celebration and a warm welcome for the influx of students.
Timed with the start of harvest season, the festival takes place just as about 200 new international students fly into the Palouse from around the globe. It reflects what many describe as a broader community effort to help international students feel at home in rural Washington. Read the full story.