In my first eight months, I have been inspired time and again by the dedication and achievements of our students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners. The college’s greatest strength has always been — and will always be — you.

This year, our college turns 125 years old, and we want to celebrate this extraordinary milestone together. This issue includes a commemorative timeline that highlights some of the defining moments, remarkable achievements and transformative growth of our college over the past century and a quarter. This visual journey honors the people, programs and breakthroughs that have shaped who we are today and inspires the bold path ahead.

As we reflect on 125 years of Learn by Doing, we also look ahead. You’ll read stories about the research and work our students and faculty are engaging in to prepare for a sustainable future while holding true to the mission that has anchored our college from the very beginning: preparing leaders who will shape the future of agriculture, food systems and environmental stewardship through a powerful Learn by Doing approach to address complex societal challenges and drive innovation in sustainable practices worldwide.

Please save the date for our 125th Anniversary Celebration on November 13–14, 2026, on Cal Poly’s campus. We hope you will join us to reconnect, reflect and celebrate all we have accomplished together. More details will be shared in the coming months.

For more than a century, our alumni have shaped industries, advanced innovation and carried our Learn by Doing philosophy into communities across the globe. Through our 125th Anniversary Fund, we invite you to invest in the next generation who will carry our Learn by Doing legacy forward. Your support will expand student opportunities, fuel innovation and strengthen the partnerships that shape our industries and communities. Learn more about the fund and how to donate page 21. We’d also love to hear your Cal Poly story. Scan the QR code or visit the link on the back cover of the magazine to share how Cal Poly has made an impact on your life.

This milestone honors that legacy of impact. Together, we are Building the Future on the Legacy of Our Past.

I look forward to celebrating with you and to building the next chapter of excellence together.

Brian Horgan
Dean, College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences

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Visit Cultivate Spring 2026 to read more stories.