At Chico State, a renowned agriculture department integrates laboratory-style learning for its students directly into the local community, with the University Farm—an 800-acre facility supporting hands-on education for Chico State students — known to Chico residents as a crown jewel of the program. Officially known as the Paul L. Byrne Agricultural Teaching and Research Center (ATRC), the University Farm helps Chico State agriculture students put classroom concepts into practice. The ATRC has not only been a benefit to students, but also to farmers and ranchers benefiting from research conducted on the farm as well as Chico grade-school students who have long enjoyed field trips to the farm. The public can experience firsthand the literal fruits and vegetables of Chico State students’ labor and education at the farm, located on the southeast side of Chico near Durham.
Tour University Farm
- Guided tours are available Monday through Friday by reservation only. Call 530−898−4262 or fill out a Farm Tour Request form to schedule a tour.
More from Chico State’s Department of Agriculture
Discover more Chico State’s Department of Agriculture:
- Organic Vegetable Project: A collaboration of students, faculty, local farmers, and other community members cultivating over 50 varieties of organic vegetables across three acres. The produce supplies a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, and extra produce is supplied to the Wildcat Food Pantry on campus for students in need. Pick up fresh-from-the-farm produce every Thursday from Noon-4pm.
- U‑Pick Peaches: The annual “U‑Pick Peaches” event at the California State University, Chico’s University Farm takes place in early- and mid-August in accordance with the ripening of the fruit, with the public invited to partake of the Farm’s sweet, juicy peach yield. To receive the latest updates regarding the upcoming dates for peach picking feel free to contact the University Farm’s Peach Hotline at (530) 898‑4989.
