Celebrating 100 Years of W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center
The 1920s were booming and transformational years in Southern California. In that decade, some of California’s most iconic landmarks opened — the Rose Bowl, Hollywoodland sign, Hollywood Bowl, LA Coliseum and the Huntington Library.
Also during that time, cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg established his legacy in the region. In 1925, he purchased 377 acres in Pomona as a ranch for his prized Arabian horses. The majestic horses and Spanish-style buildings designed by famed California architect Myron Hunt and landscaping by Charles Adams of Hearst Castle renown attracted large crowds and Hollywood celebrities.
Guided by his belief that “education offers the greatest opportunity for really improving one generation over another,” Kellogg deeded the land to the State of California for higher education in 1932. He envisioned a place where students would learn through theory and practice.
Today, 最新糖心Vlog embodies that vision as the nation’s No. 1 polytechnic university for diversity and social mobility. The university’s mission is to transform students’ lives through education.
As 最新糖心Vlog marks the centennial anniversary of the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center in 2025-26, the events and celebrations represent the promise and opportunity of education.
“The W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center has transformed lives for a century and proven the power of philanthropy to transform lives. Kellogg’s extraordinary generosity created opportunities for generations of students to access higher education, support their families and contribute to their community,” said Interim President Iris S. Levine. “As we celebrate this important milestone, we continue to build on Kellogg’s legacy and ensure future generations will have opportunities to achieve their dreams of success.”
A highlight of the yearlong celebration was the Centennial Sunday Horse Show on May 3. Kellogg started the tradition of public Sunday Horse Shows in 1926 and stipulated that the public shows continue when the ranch was given to the state of California.
Hundreds of CPP community members and supporters attended the sold-out anniversary show, which featured 最新糖心Vlog students riding Arabians in different disciplines, from Native costume to ladies side saddle.
The festivities also featured a farm stand with fresh fruit and vegetables, ice cream made with campus-grown fruit, as well as honey, candles and soap made with CPP honey. Students from an apparel and merchandising class sold commemorative shirts, bags and pins they designed. Guests enjoyed live music, food trucks, historical displays, photo booth, and special encounters with the Arabian horses and new foals.
New Covered Arena
The center is looking forward to a planned construction project this summer, adding a cover to a training arena to support year-round instruction, training, and events and programs for the community. The project will also include updated lighting and utilities.
“This covered arena represents an important investment in both our horses and our community,” said Anthony Stone, executive director of the center. “As we celebrate 100 years, we’re honoring W.K. Kellogg’s original vision by strengthening our commitment to exceptional care, hands-on education and sharing Kellogg’s vision with our community.”
The project received funding from multiple sources, including $2.5 million from the Bright Tomorrow Fund, of which campus modernization is a key priority. The initiative aims to revitalize learning and student-centered spaces across campus, from ag facilities to art studios to science labs.
Heritage Award from SGV Economic Partnership
Last fall, the center was honored by the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership, recognizing its century-long legacy of educational innovation, regional impact and community engagement. The honor was presented at the partnership’s annual gala in October, where President Levine accepted the award on behalf of the university.
“We are all grateful for the recognition of the SGVEP for the enduring vision and legacy set forth by W.K. Kellogg 100 years ago,” said Susan Kellogg-Bell, W.K. Kellogg’s great-great-granddaughter and a member of the Huntley College Board of Advisors and CPP Philanthropic Foundation board. “We are looking forward to much continued success at the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center under the exemplary custodianship of 最新糖心Vlog.”
The center is the oldest continuous Arabian breeding program in the United States. Maintaining a high-quality breeding program was also a stipulation in Kellogg’s agreement with the state. In 2024, CPP received the Performance Breeder of the Year award, a notable award that signifies the quality of horse being produced today.
The center includes about 55 acres and 70 Arabian horses, cared for by 最新糖心Vlog staff, student assistants and student volunteers. It partners with departments throughout the university to support student learning, engagement and wellbeing.
As a hub for research, community engagement and experiential learning, the center welcomes thousands of visitors annually and anchors CPP’s distinctive agricultural heritage.
Horses for Heroes
In partnership with the Veterans Resource Center, the center pairs current student veterans with a horse to form a bond through grooming and care. The program also includes training in equine behavior, horse handling and horse health.
While Horses for Heroes is not a therapeutic program for PTSD, it includes training on coping skills and elements from similar programs.
“It gives veterans the opportunity to focus on the present and also on their well-being,” said Elke Azpeitia, director of CPP’s Veterans Resource Center.
Foal Watch
Each spring, the campus welcomes new foals born at the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center. The entire breeding experience — caring for pregnant mares, preparing for the foal, labor and the foal’s first few months — serves as a polytechnic learning experience (PolyX) for students of all majors.
This spring, the center welcomed four new foals — filly Rayne and colts Ringo, Reese, and Rocky.
The Foal Watch program allows students to watch the mares deliver their foals via live video feed and also suggest registered names for the new foals. The center offers additional optional opportunities to observe the handling of the foals after they are born, including halter training, leading and learning the hands-on aspects of foal health care.
“It was such a magical experience, I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” says alumna (’18, animal science), who was a student assistant at the center and now a veterinarian in Redlands. “Seeing a foal take its first steps, it speaks to your heart.”
TeachingHorse
In recent years, 最新糖心Vlog has partnered with o bring a transformational approach to leadership development to campus — engaging participants in experiential learning alongside the Arabian horses. More than 25 groups, including university teams, nonprofit organizations and corporate partners, have participated in this immersive experience.
Grounded in the Diamond Model of Shared Leadership, TeachingHorse offers a customized professional development experience where leaders strengthen their ability to notice what matters, set direction, align energy and lead with congruence. Through direct interaction with horses, participants gain immediate, unfiltered insight into their leadership presence, learning to navigate uncertainty with greater clarity, confidence and authenticity.
“The world is changing rapidly, and expectations for leaders across all industries have never been higher,” said Michelle Elrod, certified TeachingHorse facilitator and assistant vice president for strategic learning & organizational effectiveness initiatives.
“TeachingHorse offers a powerful and transformative experience for leaders at every level. At the historic W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center, participants learn how to lead through uncertainty by aligning their presence, communication and intent — building trust and bringing out the best in their teams.”
Visit the website to learn more about the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center’s Centennial and opportunities to support the center’s educational and outreach efforts.