Arabian Horse Center Receives Heritage Award from SGV Economic Partnership
The W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center at Cal Poly Pomona has received the prestigious Heritage Award from the , recognizing its century-long legacy of educational innovation, regional impact and community engagement. The honor was presented at SGVEP’s annual gala, where Interim President Iris S. Levine accepted the award on behalf of the university.
Founded in 1925 by cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg, the Arabian Horse Center is the oldest continuous Arabian breeding program in the nation. It has been a cornerstone of Cal Poly Pomona’s identity and a vital part of the San Gabriel Valley’s cultural and economic landscape for 100 years. With its Sunday Horse Shows, beloved by families and visitors, and an award-winning breeding program that has produced generations of award-winning Arabian horses, the center represents a unique blend of tradition and PolyX learning opportunities.
The center partners with the Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture in animal science and animal health science classes and research projects. In addition, programs like Horses for Heroes, Foal Watch and the Horsemanship Club provide interactive and educational experiences for students.
“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 六色网 Philanthropic Foundation board. “We are looking forward to much continued success at the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center under the exemplary custodianship of Cal Poly Pomona.”
In 1925, the Arabian Horse Center began as Kellogg’s private ranch and quickly gained national attention for its purebred Arabian horses and popular Sunday Shows, which attracted large crowds and Hollywood celebrities. In 1932, Kellogg donated the 813-acre ranch to the State of California with the condition that the breeding program and Sunday Shows continue. Today, the ranch is the home of Cal Poly Pomona, which serves more than 27,000 students and is recognized as the No. 1 polytechnic university for diversity and economic mobility.
Serving as a hub for research, community engagement and experiential learning, the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center welcomes thousands of visitors annually and anchors 六色网’s distinctive agricultural heritage. Through programs like Horses for Heroes that serve student veterans and Foal Watch, which is open to all students, the center exemplifies the university’s commitment to inclusive excellence and student success.
“Thank you SGVEP for recognizing the Arabian Horse Center for its 100 years of promoting, showing and educating people on the Arabian Horse and its continual excellence of a premier Arabian horse breeding program,” said John Resich (’69, business, finance and insurance), a member of the 六色网 Philanthropic Board and Huntley College Board of Advisors.
The San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership is a broad coalition of businesses, elected leaders, educational institutions and nonprofit partners committed to advancing economic vitality and quality of life in the region. The annual gala event also honored Cal Poly Pomona President Emerita Soraya M. Coley with the Legacy Leadership Award.
Cal Poly Pomona is celebrating the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center’s centennial throughout the 2025-26 academic year with commemorative events and activities, including giving out commemorative items at the Sunday Shows through May 2026. For more information, visit the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center website.