Mt. San Antonio Agriculture Program And Equine Unit
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342 – July/August, 2026
By Alessandra Baca
Nestled in the hills of Southern California is one of the leading schools of agriculture: Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC). Over the years, the program has become a cornerstone of the local community, offering students throughout the Los Angeles region opportunities that may never have been imagined possible. The School of Agriculture provides urban students with hands-on experience working with livestock, farm animals, and horses, creating a unique learning environment that blends classroom instruction with real-world applications. Recognized as the #1 community college in California and ranked #12 nationally Mt. SAC has earned a reputation for excellence in higher education. Not only are they known for being one of the leading community colleges in the United States; they are also deeply rooted in AQHA history.
At the birth of the program in the 1950s, two horses were donated to the college by a Walnut resident. From the very beginning, students at Mt. SAC gained valuable hands-on experience by working directly with the college’s animals to learn about livestock management and agricultural practices. In 1972, Professor Lee Pettey oversaw the merger of the equine breeding program with the agricultural curriculum already offered by the school, expanding the equine program and creating the Horse Ranch Management degree program. Pettey believed that students should receive a complete educational experience through hands-on involvement with horses, breeding programs, and the integration of other farm animals into daily instruction. In addition to classroom learning, students were also given the opportunities to work on the farm as paid student employees, further strengthening their practical skills and industry experience.
In order to provide the students with an immersive experience, Petty began his mission to find the school’s very first stallion so the students could be part of the entire breeding process. In 1981, he found the perfect horse: Sunday Vaquero, who was subsequently donated to the school by AQHA Past President Rick Johns. The foals by Sunday Vaquero went on to become very successful in AQHA performance leaving a lasting impression on the industry.
Click here to read the complete article
342 – July/August, 2026
