Sandhill Research and Education Center 900 Clemson Road Columbia, South Carolina 29229 P: (803) 788-5700 shrec@clemson.edu
Overview
The Sandhill Research and Education Center (REC), located in Columbia, was established in 1926 for agricultural research in the primarily rural Sandhills region of South Carolina. As Richland County has grown, the focus of Sandhill REC has evolved to meet the changing needs of the state. Sandhill REC is committed to agribusiness, natural resources and environmental stewardship research and education. The Agribusiness Center houses the Extension Agribusiness Team that meets the increasing need for sound marketing, financial and risk management and production decision tools in the state. Research is focused on long leaf pine, invasive species, wildlife habitat and specialty crops such as peaches and blueberries as well as agronomic and cover crops. Sandhill is also home to the Incubator Farm program which allows entrepreneurs an opportunity to learn and develop their own farming operation.
The 570-acre campus is home to a variety of Clemson departments and initiatives. Richland County Extension, Department of Pesticide Regulation, Richland County 4-H, Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Programs (EFNEP), and Richland County Master Gardeners are all housed on-site.
The Sandhill REC public use area is bordered by Clemson Road to the southwest and Pecan Grove Road to the southeast.
A commercial area, the Village at Sandhill, sits to the southwest across Clemson Road.
A residential neighborhood borders the property to the northwest, and a lake borders the northeast corner.
Key Facilities
Parking Area: Located at the southern tip of the public use area, near the intersection of Clemson Road and Pecan Grove Road.
Children's Garden: Located centrally, just north of the parking area.
Restroom: A portable restroom is located at the southeast corner of the Children's Garden.
Roads and Walking Paths
General Access: Walking is permitted throughout the public use area, not just on the indicated paths.
Designated Walking Paths: The main trails form a continuous loop starting from the southern parking area, following this general route:
Garden Path: Travels northwest from the parking area, running along the southwest edge of the Children's Garden to the southwest corner of the public use area.
Forest Trail: Turns northeast to follow the main property boundary, entering the dense forested area and crossing over Experiment Road.
Pecan Grove Trail: Emerges from the forest and travels southwest, running parallel to Pecan Grove Road to return directly to the parking area.
Sandhill REC Highlights
Research Focus
Agribusiness
Agronomic Crops
Specialty Crops
Irrigation Technology
Incubator Farm
Forestry and Wildlife
Community Outreach
Sandhill Children’s Garden
Sandhill Fish Club
50 Acres of Walking Trails
Group Tours
Forest and Wildlife Field Day
Richland County Extension
School Days Early Childhood Ag Education
High School and Collegiate Cross Country
Grantors
USDA - Rural Development
USDA - NIFA
SC Soybean Board
SC Tobacco Board
SC Department of Agriculture
SC Forestry Commission
SC Cotton Board
State-Wide Research Collaborations
Six Research and Education Centers are a network of centers located strategically throughout the state according to the state’s soil and climate regions that support and encourage associations between Clemson Agricultural Experiment Station, Clemson Cooperative Extension, and various industries. Researchers work to find solutions to the world’s challenges in how to feed a growing global population, conserve natural resources, enhance the vibrancy of the state’s agricultural and natural resources economies, and assist not only South Carolinians but also globally to improve the quality of life.
