Old Beef Barn Demolished to Make Way for Student…

The old beef barn, including the barn, surrounding pipe stalls and hay barn, located above the parking lots on Via Carta, will be demolished in the coming weeks to make way for new agriculture student employee housing adjacent to the planned future Animal Health Center. The site has been largely unused for several years as beef operations have relocated to other, newer sites within the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. Over the years, the site has deteriorated, making it unusable and a potential safety concern if left unattended. Demolition of the beef pavilion is the first step prior to building two new six-bedroom student houses that will provide housing for up to 12 students working on campus agriculture sites. Agriculture housing offers a unique opportunity for qualified students to gain practical experience working in positions of responsibility at campus agricultural production units. In the past, the site was used for livestock events throughout the year, including FFA state finals, camps and other programs. Those activities have long been held elsewhere on campus.  

George Gallagher Heads the Animal Science Department

George Gallagher joined Animal Science Department in February as the new department head, replacing Jaymie Noland who retired from the post in 2022. He was previously a professor in the Berry College Animal Science Department in Georgia, where he served as chair of that department. Gallagher has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal sciences from New Mexico State University and a doctorate degree in reproductive physiology from Washington State University. “My previous institution and Cal Poly have much in common. Both are predominantly undergraduate institutions with a focus of Learning by Doing and have strong animal science programs,” said Gallagher. “I have had Cal Poly on my radar for some time waiting for the right opportunity. I am honored and excited to be a part of the Animal Science Department at Cal Poly.”  

Cath Kleier Farewell Celebration

Join us on Friday, March 10, in raising a toast to Associate Dean Cath Kleier as she heads off to her next adventure at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She joined the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences in August 2020 and spend the past three years focused on student success by guiding undergraduate advising and overseeing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, student degree completion and retention, and student leadership programs. Kleier’s farewell celebration will be held from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Center for Wine and Viticulture.

New Minor: Fire Ecology and Wildfire Hazard Planning

The Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences Department is now offering a new minor: Fire Ecology and Wildfire Hazard Planning.

“The unprecedented destructive nature of wildfires in California in recent years will require a diversity of disciplines to solve the resulting effects,” said Professor Chris Dicus, minor coordinator.

Students studying fire ecology, wildland fire management and hazard planning will find courses that complement their majors. The first class needed for the new Fire Ecology and Wildfire Hazard Planning will be offered this spring: NR 204 – Wildland Fire Control.