Rancho Cielo
710 Old Stage Road, Salinas, (831) 444‑3533, ranchocieloyc.org
“The tractors came over the roads and into the fields, great crawlers moving like insects, having the incredible strength of insects,” John Steinbeck wrote in The Grapes of Wrath. Now tractors are everywhere – with electronics Steinbeck could not have foreseen – and more innovative practices and tools are in the hands that cultivate the land. An example of this is Rancho Cielo’s program in Ag Technology and Mechatronics, where students work on different projects to improve refrigeration and irrigation systems. Rancho Cielo’s program was the first one in the state, with pilot certifications from the Western Growers Association. That’s where this nonprofit shines – empowering young people with practical skills to succeed in the local agricultural workforce.