Cal Poly to Celebrate Grand Opening of New Oppenheimer Family Equine Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 31, 2018
Contact: AnnMarie Cornejo
805-756-2427; ancornej@calpoly.edu
SAN LUIS OBISPO – A grand opening celebration will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, June 1, to celebrate the completion of the first phase of the Oppenheimer Family Equine Center at Cal Poly.
The now-complete 60,000-square-foot covered riding area, foaling barn, stallion barn and hay barn at the northern end of Cal Poly’s campus was funded by the $20 million donation made to the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences from longtime Cal Poly supporters Peter and Mary Beth Oppenheimer.
“We are grateful to the Oppenheimers for supporting the vision of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences and investing in facilities and programs that will support generations of students to come,” Dean Andrew Thulin said. “It is partners like Peter and Mary Beth Oppenheimer who allow us to reach our full potential in providing the best for our students.”
Students from across campus will benefit from the equine center, with programs including a foaling and breeding enterprise, a quarter horse enterprise, the Cal Poly Dressage Team, the Cal Poly Polo Team and the Cal Poly Equestrian Team.
A second riding arena, an Animal Health Center and an Agriculture Event Center, all funded in some part by the Oppenheimers’ donation, are also in various stages of planning.
The ceremony will coincide with the university’s annual Cal Poly Performance Horse Sale, to be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 2, at the new Oppenheimer Family Equine Center. The Quarter Horse Enterprise program is comprised of students selected to start, prepare and prime Cal Poly-bred horses. The colts and fillies are trained entirely by students and are geared toward performance, general pleasure riding and ranch work. At the end of each spring quarter a live auction is held to showcase student progress and achievements. The live auction will be held from 2:30 to 4 p.m., with a riding preview and silent auction preceding the event.
About Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
Cal Poly is a nationally ranked, comprehensive polytechnic university. The university’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences is comprised of expert faculty members who take pride in their ability to transform academically motivated students into innovative professionals ready to solve the complex challenges associated with feeding the world in sustainable ways. Students have access to state-of-the-art laboratories, including ranch land, orchards, vineyards and forests, all of which provide the basis for Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing methodology. It is the fifth-largest college of agriculture in the country, with 4,000 undergraduate students.
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