Cal Poly Seeks California-Based Artist Proposals for a Mural in Newly Transformed Robert E. Kennedy Library

Feb 18, 2025

Feb. 17, 2025

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly is inviting proposals for the design and creation of a mural to be installed in the main entrance lobby of the newly renovated Robert E. Kennedy Library.

The Main Entrance Mural Project seeks proposals from California-based artists to transform a concrete wall into a distinctive mural that will reflect the library as a foundational place where knowledge and personal interests can be expanded and elevated.

“The goal is to continue weaving the thread of placemaking on campus through art,” said Suzie Smith, exhibits and arts curator for Kennedy Library. “We want students to feel excited, welcome and comfortable in the library, knowing that it is a space that reflects them as individuals, as well as the part they play in our collective community.”

The Kennedy Library is currently undergoing a major renovation and is on track to open this fall. The Kennedy Library Transformation Project will transform the five-story building that opened in 1981 — the largest structure on campus — into a dynamic hub where academic experts and resources, ample study space, unique collections and curated programs and exhibitions will be found under one roof.

The request for proposals asks mural artists to submit concepts by March 20. Artists are being asked to consider themes reflecting the diversity of Cal Poly; showcase the library as a central hub of discourse, research, support and learning; and celebrate the campus community. An Art Acquisition Committee comprising an interdisciplinary team of faculty, staff and students will select the artist.

The commission will be funded by donors. The mural will be installed during the summer of 2025. A grand reopening celebration scheduled for the fall.

To learn more about the scope of the project and to apply, download a copy of the RFP and application template at https://lib.calpoly.edu/events-and-exhibits/.

Contact: Suzie Smith

805-756-0866; lib-artcollection@calpoly.edu

Poly Royal Rodeo to be Held April 9-12 During Cal Poly’s Open House

Feb 18, 2025

Feb. 17, 2025

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Tickets will be available starting Feb. 19 for the 83rd annual Poly Royal Rodeo. New this year is an additional performance night, added to accommodate more attendees. Poly Royal will be held at the Cotton Rosser Rodeo Complex on campus during Cal Poly’s Open House, with four full nights of action-packed performances.

The three-night general admission events will begin Thursday, April 10, with the first Cal Poly Rodeo Showcase Performance and conclude Saturday, April 13, with the Poly Royal Rodeo Finals. In addition, a Cal Poly Rodeo Showcase and ASI-sponsored concert will be held exclusively for students on Wednesday, April 10.

Concerts on Wednesday and Saturday night will take place in the rodeo arena for attendees to dance and enjoy the music with more leg room.

The Poly Royal Rodeo is the marquee event on campus during Cal Poly’s annual Open House. The event will feature the top collegiate rodeo athletes from around the West Coast who have advanced to the championship performance from the weekend’s earlier rounds. Athletes will compete for a championship title in events such as barrel racing, team roping, breakaway roping, tie down roping, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, bull riding and steer wrestling.

Tickets are $50 for general admission and free for children 5 and under. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Feb. 19, at https://ticketscalpoly.evenue.net/events/CPR. Student tickets for Wednesday night’s performance will be available on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at https://ticketscalpoly.evenue.net/events/CPR. All proceeds from the event benefit the Cal Poly Rodeo Program.

Cal Poly’s Cotton Rosser Rodeo Complex, named after alumnus and founding member of the team, Cotton Rosser (Animal Husbandry, ’52), was dedicated in 2022 after the establishment of the Cotton Rosser Endowment. The endowment honors Rosser’s distinguished dedication to the sport while providing financial support for the future of the Cal Poly Rodeo program. It assists with operational costs as well as student scholarships.

The Cotton Rosser Rodeo Complex is located on campus off Mt. Bishop Road. Designated, paid parking will be available nearby for Poly Royal attendees.

About Cal Poly Rodeo

Cal Poly Rodeo, coached by Ben Londo, is one of the most successful programs in the history of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA). Cal Poly sent six men to the inaugural College National Finals Rodeo in 1949. Since then, Cal Poly Rodeo’s student-athletes have won more national titles than any other college rodeo program, at 45 national titles.

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 (cafes.calpoly.edu) 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.

Contact: AnnMarie Cornejo

805-756-2427; ancornej@calpoly.edu

Cal Poly Celebrates Achievements in Teaching, Research and Service with Inaugural Faculty Excellence Awards

Feb 18, 2025

Feb. 11, 2025

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Cal Poly has announced the recipients of its inaugural Faculty Excellence Award, which honors outstanding contributions in teaching, research, and creative activities.

Administered by the Office of the Provost and made possible through a generous donor contribution, the award reflects Cal Poly’s commitment to academic excellence. This recognition is part of ongoing efforts to acknowledge and support faculty across campus.  

The first recipients of the Faculty Excellence Award are Phoenix (Dongfeng) Fang, Joni Roberts and Shannon Shoff. Nominated by their respective college deans, these faculty members were selected for their significant contributions to their disciplines, commitment to student success and dedication to the Cal Poly community. “This award celebrates the exceptional dedication and achievements of our faculty, who consistently go above and beyond to advance knowledge and foster student success,” said Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Dr. Fang, Dr. Roberts, and Dr. Shoff’s innovative approach to teaching and impactful research, scholarly and creative activities exemplify Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing philosophy.” 

Phoenix (Dongfeng) Fang is an assistant professor of computer science and software engineering in the College of Engineering, specializing in cybersecurity and privacy. Her research focuses on wireless security, 5G systems, Internet of Things device protection and privacy-preserving healthcare applications, addressing critical challenges in securing modern technological systems. In her teaching, she emphasizes hands-on opportunities for students, equipping them with the skills necessary to tackle real-world cybersecurity challenges.  “In a world driven by data, cybersecurity and privacy are not just technologies — they are the guardians of trust, the foundation of safety and the architects of an equitable and just digital future,” Fang said. “It’s an honor to empower my students to develop the skills needed to lead and innovate in securing the technologies we rely on every day.”

Joni Roberts is an assistant professor of kinesiology and public health in the Bailey College of Science and Mathematics, specializing in global health challenges, health education disparities and cultural competency. Her research examines the social determinants of health — such as discrimination and access — and she partners with communities to develop structural solutions for inequities. A recipient of the 2024 40 Under 40 Public Health Catalyst Award, Roberts’ work underscores the impact of cultural beliefs on healthcare decisions, particularly among marginalized populations. She inspires students to approach public health challenges with compassion, cultural awareness, and critical thinking. “I consider myself a global educator. Worldwide, culture really shapes the way people understand things, how they gain access and how they navigate life,” said Roberts, who has led research focusing on marginalized groups and those with few resources, both in the U.S. and abroad. “As I go through the tenure process at Cal Poly, it’s surreal and humbling to see that so many people recognize the things that I'm doing. Words can't really express my excitement.” 

Shannon Shoff is an assistant professor of food science and nutrition in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, specializing in early-life nutrition. Using a systems biology approach, her research investigates biochemical pathways and molecular mechanisms to identify effective interventions that promote optimal growth and development. Her work spans metabolomics, microbiome studies and protein abundance, providing innovative solutions to improve early childhood health outcomes. Shoff’s expertise informs her innovative teaching, preparing students for impactful careers in health and nutrition. “I am fascinated by the fact that nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life can have long-lasting implications on development, with negative developmental consequences of both dietary excess and inadequacy,” said Shoff, who is working with a team of students on a study that investigates how antibiotic administration to iron deficient piglets alters their microbiome, metabolism and cognitive development. “This award recognizes the importance of advancing research like ours, where piglets serve as a valuable translational model for human infants that allow us to study how nutrition impacts molecular mechanisms.” 

Each recipient of the Faculty Excellence Award receives a monetary award to directly support professional development, research and academic initiatives.

Contact: Matt Lazier 
805-756-7109; mlazier@calpoly.edu

Cal Poly Names Brian Horgan as the New Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences

Jan 23, 2025

He and his wife are entering the empty-nest phase as their three daughters embark on their futures. A lover of all things outdoors, he looks forward to exploring the landscapes of the West Coast with his family and their two dogs while they embrace this new chapter of adventure and growth, both personally and professionally. 

Contact: Matt Lazier 
805-756-7109; mlazier@calpoly.edu  

CAL POLY STRAWBERRY CENTER PRESENTS NEW STRAWBERRY FARMING RESEARCH AND INNOVATION EFFORTS

Aug 2, 2024

The Strawberry Center was formed 10 years ago as a partnership between the California Strawberry Commission and Cal Poly aimed at increasing the sustainability of California’s $3 billion strawberry industry through research and education.

To further its research efforts, the Cal Poly Strawberry Center, in collaboration with the California Strawberry Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service in Salinas, California, was recently awarded $1.25 million in federal funding in continued support of its strawberry production automation research and its efforts in fostering a workforce pipeline to support sustainable food production needed to meet the demands of a growing population.

“The annual Strawberry Center Field Day is a way to showcase the research and innovations our students and staff are working on,” said Gerald Holmes, director of the Cal Poly Strawberry Center. “Each of these projects will benefit the strawberry industry indefinitely.”  

The Strawberry Center Field Day spotlights the latest research findings in automation, entomology and plant pathology. Highlighted projects include:

• Non-chemical pest management solutions involving an optimized bug vacuum and use of UV-C light.
• Mechanical Ag plastic removal and recycling
• Automations to improve workplace efficiency and safety like the hoop house arch remover, decapper and cross hole puncher/burner.
• Solutions for controlling and mitigating soilborne pathogens including the use of cover crops, plant breeding and salts & moisture manipulation.
• New information on the management of Lygus and spider mites.

Increased focus on automation technologies will help improve strawberry production and lead to a higher-quality product, supplying a steady stream of healthy produce. The introduction of advanced technologies, including automation capabilities, are critical to the long-term competitiveness for domestic production of strawberries and other specialty crops within the international agricultural marketplace.

“Celebrating a decade of commitment to research and education is not just a milestone, but a testament to the strength of the strawberry industry and its vision to succeed with dedication and innovation,” said Rick Tomlinson, president, California Strawberry Commission. “The work showcased at the Strawberry Field Day is crucial to advancing strawberry farming and environmental stewardship, and we look forward to what’s next.”

California’s strawberry farmers are among the most progressive and environmentally conscious growers in the state and the world. They continue to lead, evolve and implement the most sustainable farming practices and ways to grow strawberries, which includes the research and innovations coming from the Strawberry Center.

Strawberries are California’s third highest-grossing crop, bringing in $2.68 billion in 2022. There are more than 400 growers, shippers and processors that grow 90% of U.S.-grown strawberries, many on multi-generational family-owned farms.

Registration for the event is now open for strawberry industry members. More details about the Strawberry Center Field Day can be found here.

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About California Strawberry Commission

The California Strawberry Commission is more than 300 strawberry farmers, shippers, and processors, all working together to advance strawberry farming for the future of our land and people. Commission programs create opportunities for success through groundbreaking programs focused on workforce training, strawberry production research, and nutrition research. Through science-based information and education, it delivers the good news about sustainable farming practices that benefit the health of people, farms, and communities.

About Cal Poly Strawberry Center

The Cal Poly Strawberry Center was established in 2014 within the Cal Poly College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences as a partnership between Cal Poly and the California Strawberry Commission. This one-of-a-kind center is rooted in the hands-on learning approach that defines Cal Poly. The center focuses on applied research incorporating teaching and learning experiences for Cal Poly undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and California strawberry farmers. For more information, please visit www.strawberry.calpoly.edu.

Andrew Thulin, Dean of Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, To Retire After 25 Years of Service to University 

Feb 28, 2023

Andrew Thulin, Dean of Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, To Retire After 25 Years of Service to University  

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Andrew J. Thulin, dean of Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES), has announced his plans to retire from the university at the end of the 2023 calendar year.  

Thulin, a Cal Poly alumnus, joined CAFES in 1998 as head of its Animal Science Department and has led the college for the last 10 years. Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Cal Poly’s provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs, shared the news of Thulin’s impending retirement with the campus community Tuesday.  

“Dean Thulin’s legacy is built on his vision for the future and passion for collaboration with faculty, staff and students, as well as his strong connections to industry and government organizations,” said Jackson-Elmoore. “He has been instrumental in improving both the college’s programs and its facilities.

“He has worked to ensure the college is continuously poised to prepare future generations of students in sustainable agriculture practices that will build long-term food safety and security, environmental sustainability, and climate-smart agricultural systems.”  

Jackson-Elmoore will work with Thulin to ensure a smooth transition of the many critical projects currently underway in the college. A national search for the next dean will be conducted in partnership with an external search firm. 

During his 25-year tenure, more than $230 million was raised for numerous new laboratories and the construction of a new Beef Center, Animal Nutrition Center, J & G Lau Meat Processing Center, Oppenheimer Family Equine Center, Boswell Ag Tech Center in the William and Linda Frost Center for Research and Innovation, and the $22 million JUSTIN and J. LOHR Center for Wine and Viticulture, which has been recognized as the largest donor-funded project in California State University history. All projects were built to reflect Thulin’s vision of offering advanced technologies to provide students with the hands-on experience needed to succeed and thrive in varied industries, and to support the Teacher-Scholar Model for the college to ensure faculty and students are partners in discovery and innovation.   

“It has been my great pleasure to serve as dean of the Cal Poly College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences for the past 10 years, focusing on developing solutions to food security, environmental sustainability and climate-smart agriculture,” Thulin said. “My love for Cal Poly runs deep, and I am honored to have spent the last 25 years alongside those who work tirelessly to prepare our graduates to address these global issues. I can retire knowing that the future is in good hands.”  

As dean, Thulin hired nearly 100 new faculty and numerous full-time lecturers to support the college’s nine departments and 15 majors, with an emphasis on adding international and diverse expertise. His mentorship facilitated partnerships across the university and strengthened interdisciplinary efforts collegewide. A strong believer in diversity of thought and respect for others, Dean Thulin initiated the college’s first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and has encouraged and funded innovative programs to support first generation and underrepresented minority students. 

His focus on expanding student and faculty success helped pave the way for faculty to grow research grant funding to $21 million in 2022 from about $5.5 million in 2014. In addition, his passion for providing students the opportunities to innovate and conduct undergraduate research showed through the development of the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP). Since 2015 he has supported as many as 100 students and faculty with up to $400,000 each summer to support this important program. In addition, he updated the college’s strategic plan, and he advocated for the preservation of the college’s more than 6,000 acres of agricultural production, water supply, processing and research land and facilities near the campus core during the university’s master plan update.   

Thulin strategically partnered with industry leaders who recognize and share the value of investing in the future to provide significant funding to launch the Cal Poly Strawberry Center, the Grimm Family Center for Organic Production and Research, and the Wildland-Urban Interface FIRE Institute, and reinvent the Dairy Processing and Technology Center, all of which are poised to expose students daily to existing challenges and prepare them to be future leaders in industries that sustain life.  

Cal Poly’s Horticultural and Crop Science Department Changes Name to Plant Sciences to Better Reflect the Program’s Academic Mission

May 23, 2022

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly’s Horticulture and Crop Science Department has formally changed its name to the Plant Sciences Department. The agricultural and environmental plant sciences major will also be renamed to reflect predominant employment opportunities more accurately for graduates and prospective students.

The department, which was formed in 2002, offers curriculum that is designed to train plant scientists who are ready upon graduation to make informed decisions and recommendations regarding sustainable farming or horticultural practices that maximize plant production and protection while minimizing economic, environmental and social impacts. The name change enables the program to clearly convey its academic mission and broaden recruitment of applicants who may or may not have a background in agriculture and allow them to be successful in robust careers throughout California and beyond.

“The Horticulture and Crop Science Department embarked upon careful consideration of the proposed name change with input from industry, its advisory council, and market analysis assessing prospective student interests,” said Scott Steinmaus, head of the department. “The name, ‘Plant Sciences,’ better reflects the interests of prospective students, predominant employment opportunities for graduates, aligns with programs at competitor institutions, and the department's academic mission.”

Within the plant sciences major, students can focus on three concentrations: environmental horticultural sciences, fruit and crop science and plant protection science.

Cal Poly students majoring in plant sciences are graduating and accepting jobs as production managers, agronomists, horticulturalists, food safety technicians, pest control advisors, certified crop advisors, government positions, and sales representatives throughout the country.

“This change reflects the department’s expertise in providing students with the tools, knowledge and abilities to meet the challenges of tomorrow — from best practices in drought management to the sustainable growing of plants, both indoors and outside,” said Andrew Thulin, dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. “Students are given direct learning opportunities in the university’s fields, gardens, orchards, and labs; students are encouraged to look for solutions to real-world problems.”

About Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences

Cal Poly is a nationally ranked, comprehensive polytechnic university. The 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 organic and conventional crop land, orchards, vineyards, forests and rangeland — 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 more than 4,100 undergraduate students. For more information, visit cafes.calpoly.edu.

Cal Poly Animal Science Students Advance to National Competition with First-Place Win

Apr 27, 2022

The Cal Poly Animal Science Academic Quadrathlon team members (left to right), Ashley Tartaglia, Genna Vieira, Assistant Professor Zach McFarlane (team mentor), Rachael Stucke and Sophia Juarez after their win at the Western Section of the American Society of Animal Science Academic Quadrathlon competition hosted by Cal Poly.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly animal science students used their knowledge of drought, livestock and rangeland management to win a recent regional competition, advancing them to the nationals in June. The team animal science majors took first place at the 2022 Western Section of the American Society of Animal Science Academic Quadrathlon, held April 1-2 at Cal Poly.

The team included Sophia Juarez from San Pedro, California; Rachael Stucke, from San Mateo, California; Ashley Tartaglia, from Delano, California; and Genna Vieira, from Fremont, California. They competed in four events: a written exam, oral presentation, a practicum of eight labs, and a quiz bowl. 

The topic of the oral presentation was “Using management and technology to address severe drought conditions in the Western United States.” Students were asked to identify key strategies and tools available to ranchers and land managers to help mitigate the impact of severe drought and maintain water in western landscapes — a relevant topic throughout California and beyond. The Cal Poly team focused on how animal genetics, rangeland management, water storage, and feed selection are all tools that producers can implement in times of drought.

“The Academic Quadrathlon is a true test of a student’s ability to apply the knowledge they gain in the classroom,” said Animal Science Department Assistant Professor Zach McFarlane, who mentored the team. “Our incredible students in the Animal Science Department truly embody Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing motto. The 2022 team will represent the Western Section of the American Society of Animal Science with pride.”

Cal Poly hosted the regional completion and welcomed the teams from five other Western U.S. universities, including Chico State, Fresno State, Colorado State University, New Mexico State University, and Oregon State University.  

Teams are ranked by their performance in each of the four competitions of the quadrathlon, with multidisciplinary and multispecies sections designed to test students in all facets of animal science. Cal Poly ranked first in the lab practicum, written exam and quiz bowl, and second in the oral presentation. Lab practicum stations focused on application of skills related to animal physiology, lactation, nutrition, reproductive physiology, and animal health.

This is the third consecutive time that Cal Poly has won the regional competition, with additional first place wins in 2019 and 2020. The 2021 contest was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019 the Cal Poly team won the national competition.

“Participating in the Academic Quadrathlon competition was very fulfilling experience, since I was able to see how far my education in animal science has grown over the past four years,” Rachel Stucke said. “Winning the western section was a perfect capstone to my Cal Poly experience. Our team win is very much attributed to the strength and diversity of our department’s hands-on curriculum, as each team member has specialized species strengths, in addition to a strong understanding of foundational animal science concepts.” 

The win advances the Cal Poly team to the national American Society of Animal Science competition in Oklahoma City in June.

About Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences

Cal Poly is a nationally ranked, comprehensive polytechnic university. The 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 organic and conventional crop land, orchards, vineyards, forests and rangeland — 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 more than 4,100 undergraduate students. For more information, visit cafes.calpoly.edu.

Cal Poly’s Leaning Pine Arboretum Receives $1 Million Donation for Upgrades and Improved Programming

Apr 27, 2022

Gift from longtime university supporters Kathleen Enz Finken (former provost) and Gerald Finken honors agriculture dean Andrew J. Thulin

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Kathleen Enz Finken, Cal Poly’s provost from 2012-19, and her husband, Gerald Finken, both longtime supporters of Cal Poly, have donated $1 million to the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science’s Leaning Pine Arboretum. The gift was made in honor of Andrew J. Thulin, the college’s dean since 2013 and former head of the college’s Animal Science Department.

Nestled on five acres, the Leaning Pine Arboretum is Cal Poly’s living classroom for students, faculty and the community. The arboretum features a stunning array of landscape plants representing the world’s five Mediterranean climate regions.

This collection of landscaping serves multiple purposes for the university and community. An extension of the Cal Poly Horticulture and Crop Science Department’s Environmental Horticulture Science facility, the arboretum’s foremost goal remains education: a resource for independent study, research and workshops that promote horticulture best practices for Cal Poly students and faculty spanning numerous areas of study.

The gift will help fund the further integration of the arboretum into the fabric of the Cal Poly community through increased access, improved directional signage, programming and opportunities for education, while serving as a regional draw for visitors to the Central Coast and those within the horticulture industry.

This is not the first time that the College of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences has benefited from the Finkens’ generosity. The couple are avid supporters of the Swanton Pacific Ranch, Cal Poly’s vast, 3,200-acre property in Santa Cruz County whose diverse and fragile ecosystems — including Redwood forests, coastal grasslands, and a lush estuary — are the locus for student research and educational activities.

“The Finkens’ philanthropic support of Cal Poly and the community exemplifies their commitment to furthering educational opportunities for students and the environment,” Thulin said. “Just as their past support of Swanton Pacific Ranch allowed the college to enhance educational opportunities there, this donation will expand our offerings at the one-of-a-kind Leaning Pine Arboretum to incorporate the larger community.”

The arboretum has long been a crown jewel for the campus community as well as the greater San Luis Obispo Community. Over the years, many horticulture and botany students, faculty and staff have worked in the garden to maintain its beauty and importance. However, it is not sustainable under the college’s current budget scenario, nor is it fully accessible to many visitors. Infrastructure and accessibility improvements are needed, and the Finkens’ gift will help make those improvements a reality. 

“Dean Thulin has led the complete transformation of Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences by working tirelessly to raise funds in support of students and faculty, and to bring college facilities into the 21st century,” said Kathleen Enz Finken. “He is a high-energy, caring professional wholly invested in strengthening the learning environment and preparing students for successful careers. While the arboretum is personally important to Gerald and me, it will be upgraded as part of a larger enhancement to the college’s student-learning facilities, all of which will stand as a testament to the leadership of Dean Thulin and the support of numerous generous donors for many years to come.”

Said Thulin: “The Leaning Pine Arboretum will serve as an essential tool in addressing the increasing impacts from drought, climate change and wildfire which is demanding research, education and outreach on Mediterranean landscapes. As a regional destination, the Leaning Pine Arboretum can meet the need for Mediterranean climate horticultural education and training and give students valuable hands-on experience.”

About the Leaning Pine Arboretum

The five-acre Leaning Pine Arboretum, established within the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences 50 years ago, is a distinctive representation of plant species that make up the five Mediterranean ecosystems worldwide. The student-managed botanic garden, surrounded by stunning vistas overlooking the Cal Poly campus, showcases a vast array of curated collections of flowers, plants and trees and provides an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in a thriving living laboratory of worldwide plant species. Learn more at https://aeps.calpoly.edu/leaning-pine-arboretum.

About Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences

Cal Poly is a nationally ranked, comprehensive polytechnic university. The 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 organic and conventional crop land, orchards, vineyards, forests and rangeland — 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 more than 4,100 undergraduate students. For more information, visit cafes.calpoly.edu.

Annual Tomato Spectacular Plant Sale to Be Held Two Consecutive Weekends in April at Cal Poly

Mar 22, 2022

SAN LUIS OBISPO — More than 75 different types of tomato plants will be available at Cal Poly’s annual Tomato Spectacular plant sale from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 1-2 and April 15-16, at the Horticulture Unit near the Poly Plant Shop.

Brandywine, Early Girl, Kellogg’s Breakfast, Vintage Wine, and a selection of cherry tomato plants, including Nature’s Bites, are some of the unique cultivars that will be available during the student-run enterprise project, one of several such hands-on courses offered by the university’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.

This year, the program is directed by a team of five students who have grown more than 3,000 tomato plants from seed to provide home gardeners with quality plants that will produce fresh tomatoes throughout summer. Students began seeding the plants in early February and have tended to them in the campus greenhouses.

“Being a part of the Tomato Spectacular student-run enterprise has enabled me to gain first-hand experience with growing a crop commercially for sale in a production setting,” said Ryan Schrader, a fourth-year agricultural and environmental plant sciences major. “Everything from cleaning pots to how to set up the sale has been done by our fantastic team of five hardworking students. I’m so excited to share with everyone the tomato fruits of our labor these past few months.”

The plants cost $8 and are available on a first-come, first-served basis — with no holds or reservations made in advance. Customers are encouraged to bring boxes and/or wagons to transport plants to their vehicles.

The sale will take place at the Environmental Horticultural Sciences Building (No. 48) on Via Carta Road off Highland Drive. Parking will be provided for free in lot H14.  For more information, follow Cal Poly Tomato Spectacular on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CalPolyTomatoSpectacular and Instagram at www.instagram.com/calpolytomatospectacular.

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. 

Photo information: Ryan Schrader, a fourth-year agricultural and environmental plant sciences major, tending plants in the campus greenhouse. He is one of five students involved in the Tomato Spectacular student enterprise.