When not working with students and staff in Metro's Chemistry Department, lab coordinator and adjunct faculty member Debe Bell enjoys the quiet, relaxed nature of her Six Bell Farms in Aurora.

Bell, who has been breeding animals for 20 years, breeds mostly rabbits these days, in addition to some chickens and turkeys. She recently introduced a new and rare breed of rabbit, with a lion-like mane around its face, at this year's National Western Stock Show.

It's called the Lion-Headed Rabbit, and Bell and her partner are its only known breeders in Colorado. The rabbit was first discovered in Belgium in the late 1980s and imported into the U.S. in 1998. Bell says they make great pets.

In addition to breeding and her job at Metro, Bell also sponsors farm activities for local elementary schools. She organizes a "colonial days" event where students learn to make butter, soap and candles.

A Metro graduate, Bell loves her job at the college. "I've grown up with the people in this department," she said. "Metro has taught me how to teach, and how to teach a wide range of people."