Cal Poly San Luis Obispo students will benefit from an endowment fund established by six Farm Credit institutions throughout California. The funding will support data and other resources that enable student projects in agricultural finance and lending, data analytics and risk management.

Such funding helps promote the university's core philosophy of "learn by doing," said Marianne McGarry Wolf, head of the university's agribusiness department.

Cal Poly SLO Spokesperson AnnMarie Cornejo said university leaders are currently discussing practical ideas and concepts as the $255,000 endowment was announced at the close of the school year. Funding may also assist senior projects, she said.

"I'm thrilled with the generosity of Farm Credit in supporting Cal Poly and our students," Wolf said in a prepared statement.

Mark Littlefield, president, and chief executive officer of Farm Credit West said the effort will also benefit the food and beverage industry in United States by helping students and providing quality academic research.

Cal Poly's agribusiness department is one of nine in the university's College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. The university expects to have 521 students enrolled in the department, which educates students who go onto work for employers involved in specialty crops, wine, and finance.