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We are starting a new program at Cuesta called Ranch Education. The primary goal of the Ranch Education program is to create farm and ranch employees and managers who have a basic grounding in animal handling and care, ranch design and maintenance, pasture maintenance and herding techniques. Emphasis will be placed on regenerative, holistic and sustainable practices to address practical, environmental, cultural and ecological challenges.
Students will gain practical hands-on experience in ranch design and repair, forage and pasture management, machinery maintenance and operation, irrigation and facility repair and construction, and leatherworking and repair. They will learn to identify and handle different species and breeds of animals safely while working in a functional ranch setting on local ranches or on the 75 acres of grassland located at 3535 Education Drive, San Luis Obispo.
The Ranch Education program will allow students to explore a variety of different employment opportunities. These opportunities include livestock event facility and cattle or horse ranch maintenance or management, establishing a goat or sheep herding business geared toward contract fire management and brush removal, sheep and/or goat farming, irrigation installation or repair, landscape management or working as a manager in any capacity that requires a combination of ranching skills.
Community education classes were offered in Fall of 2022 in holistic ranch management, and Dutch oven cooking marking the first steps in establishing the program. For Spring of 2023 classes in basic electricity, basic plumbing, pasture management, indigenous land practice, livestock handling, and horse and local ranch history
Future plans include a certificate program ( Fall 2023) and eventually AA or transferable credits to other Ag programs at UC colleges.
The Ranch Education program is visualized as a collaborative program that can work with and incorporate aspects of already existing programs offered at Cuesta. Spanish speaking students would be encouraged to learn vital industry terms in English and English speakers would be urged to learn to communicate in Spanish. Courses would include instruction in practical mathematics that would be needed in everyday ranch life; to estimate the amount of lumber needed for fencing or pipe, required feeding rations or the amount of compost required to be spread on a given field.
Students would be exposed to aspects of soil and plant science, principles of irrigation and other water related classes, construction technology including electrical work, welding, plumbing and irrigation, farm machinery, agri-business and hospitality. For the latter ‘glamping’ or farm stay’ shepherd’s huts could be incorporated into the program. Students could also plan and conduct events on site.
Students would develop not only the required ranching skills but also the “soft skills” that many employers say are missing in today’s job applicants. Students going through the program would also be encouraged to form a networking system of like-minded ranchers, herders and farmers who could serve as support and back up for each other. A vital aspect for those taking on this demanding lifestyle.