We are thrilled to feature Shelby Sopocy, Animal Care Supervisor 1 and Manager of the Swine Teaching, Research, and Outreach Facility, as one of our phenomenal customers at UC Davis Facilities Management!

Shelby has been a part of the UC Davis community for the past four years, bringing with her a strong background in the commercial swine industry. Before joining the university, she worked as a farrowing manager on a 2,500-sow unit, where she led a specialized team focused on ensuring piglet survivability and managing lactating sows for optimized production. Her extensive experience and deep passion for animal care have helped elevate the work being done at the university’s Swine Facility, where she leads daily operations and plays a vital role in education, research, and outreach.

The UC Davis Swine Facility houses a herd of 70 breeding females, 7 boars, and a nursery space housing around 200-400 pigs. She ensures the health and well-being of the animals and maintains the facility. She also facilitates teaching and research within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the School of Veterinary Medicine.

Beyond the university, Shelby and her team at the Swine Facility participate in and support community outreach programs and local youth groups. The facility regularly provides project animals for Future Farmers of America and 4-H, a youth program under the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. helping students across the region develop valuable livestock management skills and grow their interest in animal science. It's an important part of UC Davis’s mission to extend its impact beyond campus.

Shelby’s favorite part of the job is creating positive pork experiences for students and watching their passion for pigs grow. Whether she’s introducing undergraduates to their first piglet or helping graduate students conduct research, Shelby is proud to be part of their learning journey.

That said, transitioning from the private sector to a university setting hasn’t come without challenges. The university system is definitely different from a large-scale commercial facility, and business processes are handled much differently as well. Learning to navigate the university’s administrative processes has been a major adjustment, but one she’s taken in stride and learned to make the most of.

Despite those hurdles, Shelby appreciates the collaborative spirit of the UC Davis community. She regularly works with various different campus departments, and values the relationships she’s built with staff across campus. Her ability to blend industry knowledge with the educational mission of the university has made her an invaluable asset to both students and faculty.

When she’s not managing the daily operations of the Swine Facility, Shelby enjoys spending her time outdoors in her garden. Thank you, Shelby, for your dedication to supporting research, teaching, and community outreach at UC Davis. Your work helps ensure that our Agricultural and Veterinary programs continue to be some of the best in the nation!