On Sunday, February 22, Rancho Cielo hosted its 16th annual Culinary Round Up (CRU) at the Portola Hotel & Spa. The ballroom filled the way it always does, slowly at […]
News
After School Program builds pathways to possibility
Terry Poole has played in the NFL. He knows the roar of a crowd, the pressure of the huddle, the grind it takes to compete at the highest level. But […]
Trunk or Treat, Día de los Muertos and more
Even the mini horses — yes, the mini horses (Puzzle the Pirate and Georgina the Magical Princess Pony) from our community partner Hope, Horses & Kids — stopped by Rancho […]
Rancho Cielo marks 25 years of changing lives in Monterey County
After about an hour of steady drizzling, the late-afternoon sun broke through the clouds, and the Sally Hughes Church Amphitheater came alive with music and heartfelt sentiments as Rancho Cielo […]
How alumnus Rudy Jimenez built a farm and purpose
When old redwood trees surround Rudy Jimenez (’07, Silver Star), he slips into a meditative state. “They create a reserve around them to sustain themselves and help other trees,” he […]
Taste of Markon: the first decade
In the Salinas Valley, the light hits differently. Maybe it’s the way it glances off rows of strawberries and artichokes or the way it settles into the dusty horizon at […]
Ranch Cast
After School Program: A World of Possibilities
Episode 19: This week, my student cohosts, Juan and Angel, are joined by Jeff Hoefer, who teaches 3D printing; Luciano Rodriguez, who runs Rancho Cielo’s bicycle program; and Director Terry Poole for […]
The Chamber and the Ranch
Episode 18: Colleen Bailey, President and CEO of The Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce, joins us along with Elizabeth Jimenez, Rancho Cielo’s Director of Development, Marketing Director Tiffany Harbrecht, and […]
Teach, Cook and Learn
Episode 17: Interesting program this week. A lively round table discussion with administrator Joe DeRuosi, Chef EJ, Marketing Director Tiffany Harbrecht and instructor Heather Foudy about food, education and core […]
All Together Now
Episode 16: Good show this week as Ranch Cast welcomes Ty Brooks, Welding Instructor here at Rancho Cielo. I am joined by my student co-host Joseph and Rancho Marketing Director […]
Giving Never Tasted So Good
Episode 15: A very tasty program indeed, as we talk about Rancho Cielo’s 16th annual Culinary Round Up. Our guests include Janine Chicourrat from the Portola Hotel & Spa, Wanda […]
Rancho’s Holiday Extravaganza Part 2
Episode 14: The second hour of our special holiday podcast features visits from Chef EJ from our Drummond Culinary Academy, along with Master Gardener Julie Lorenzen and Ag Manager Matt Marshall. […]
Featured Newsletter
2025 Fall Newsletter
Remember the year 2000? As we collectively entered the new millennium (and sighed that the Y2K scare was over), Rancho Cielo was being established by then Monterey County Superior Court Judge John Phillips and a strong coalition of community members and public-private partnerships. Twenty-five years later, Phillips says what surprised him the most has not only been how great the need for our programs was, and still is, but also how robust the response has been to that need from the private sector and local industry across the Peninsula and the Salinas Valley.
