News & Notes - Cultivate Summer 2024
Grand Opening Celebration
The Grimm Family Soil Health and Sustainability Lab was unveiled with a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 21 – celebrating a milestone for the Cal Poly Grimm Family Center for Organic Production and Research. Guests toured the new lab, the organic farm and chatted with students and faculty about their ongoing research. The center was established in 2021 with a $5 million donation made by the Grimm family of Grimmway Farms, the global leader in organic produce.
Rodeo Documentary
The BreakaWave documentary featuring the Cal Poly Rodeo Team’s fall event held on the coastline aired on Cowboy Channel, the official network of ProRodeo and the first 24-hour television network totally dedicated to Western sports and the western lifestyle. The documentary was filmed and edited by Makeline Productions, highlighting the planning and execution of the third annual BreakaWave event and the Cal Poly Rodeo program. The fourth annual event will be held Sept. 17 in Pismo Beach.
Groundbreaking
Construction of the college’s Plant Sciences Complex and the Charles and Claire Jacobson Animal Health Center continues to progress, with work underway at both sites to prepare for construction to commence. The Plant Sciences Complex will feature a new teaching and laboratory building, state-of-the-art research and production greenhouses, an ancillary produce packing and cooling facility and a farm store for food retail operations. The Animal Health Center will include space for teaching, research and clinical training — including wet labs, surgery suit and necropsy area. It will include a covered outdoor area for animal examinations and a mobile ambulatory component that will expose students to livestock practices and encourage them to consider a career in animal care. Learn more about how you can support these projects.
Faculty and Staff Awards
The annual CAFES 2023-24 Faculty and Staff Awards event was held Tuesday, June 11. Award recipients include:
| Outstanding Faculty Award | Kevin Lin, Experience Industry Management |
| Outstanding Staff Award | Alison Stevens, Strawberry Center |
| Outstanding Lecturer Award | Lou Moore-Jacobsen, Animal Science |
| Outstanding Mentor Award | Amber Karson, Experience Industry Management; Wine and Viticulture |
| Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award | Marni Goldenberg, Experience Industry Management |
| New Teaching Award | Lucy McGowan, Agribusiness |
| Sustained Excellence in Teaching Award | Ben Hoover, Plant Sciences |
| New Scholar Award | Stewart Wilson, Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences |
| Sustained Excellence in Scholarship Award | Ricky Volpe, Agribusiness |
| Early Career Staff Award | Devin Scattini, Food Science and Nutrition |
Committee Appointment
Matthew Grieshop, director of the Grimm Family Center for Organic Production and Research, was appointed to the International Fresh Produce Association’s (IFPA) Organic Committee which discusses updates on policy and regulatory-related matters and plans strategy, engagement and priorities for organic produce.
Calendar of Upcoming Events
| Sept. 23 | Fall quarter classes begin |
| Oct. 5 | Annual homecoming celebration |
| Nov. 2 | Coffee with the college as part of Mustang Family Weekend |
Visit Cultivate Summer 2024 to read more stories.