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 […]
News
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 […]
25 years of transforming lives in Monterey County
Nestled in the foothills of the Gabilan Mountains, in the heart of the Salinas Valley, is a 100-acre ranch and restored piece of history—it’s called Rancho Cielo. For 25 years, […]
Rancho Cielo students hit top gear at Monterey Car Week
This summer has been one for the books for our Auto & Diesel Repair and Classic Car Restoration students. They had the incredible opportunity to welcome Tony Purnell, a world-renowned […]
Ranch Cast
Rancho’s Holiday Extravaganza Part 1
Episode 13: A festive hour with students and staff sharing holiday memories. We talk marketing with Tiffany Harbrecht and Adam Joseph. Lori Tuttle and Christy Petit from Hope Horses & Kids […]
Ranch Cast: Here’s to Their Health
Episode 12: We continue our theme of caring for our four-legged friends as we chat with Kendra Brady and Petra Lewis from Hitchcock Road Animal Services. Also joining us is Lori […]
Ranch Cast: A Passion for Horses
Episode 11: Exciting show featuring Lori Tuttle, Christy Petit and Zach Elizalde from Hope Horses & Kids. What marvelous folks and what a difference they make in the lives of so […]
Ranch Cast: Sweet Home Rancho
Episode 10: Mike Kurtz and John Pek from New Hope Honey Makers join us to chat with our student staff about everything bees. From their inspiring backstory to the hives they […]
Ranch Cast: A Passion for Teaching
Episode 9: In this edition, we welcome Mirel Mejia, Vice Principal of John Muir Charter Schools. Mirel shares her remarkable story of how she came to Rancho Cielo and answers questions […]
Ranch Cast: What’s Cooking at the Ranch
Episode 8: In this edition, we welcome Executive Chef EJ Jimenez from the Drummond Culinary Academy at Rancho Cielo. Chef EJ shares his background, teaching style and vision with our […]
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.
