The former Ridgetown College opened in 1922 as "Western Ontario Experimental Farm" as a research facility, was renamed in 1951 as " Western Ontario Agricultural School" and was established by the Ontario Department of Agriculture as a teaching school although courses had begun as early as 1936. It was renamed again as "Ridgetown College of Agriculture and Technology" in 1968. It has been part of the University of Guelph since 1997 and is now "University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus. It is a venue for OAC- the Ontario Agricultural College. About 600 students presently attend 2 and 3-year courses on agriculture, veterinary technology, graphical information systems, horticulture and environmental management.