Ranch Stories - Swanton Pacific Ranch - Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo * Skip to Content * ? * Current Students * Prospective Students * Parents * Business Community * Faculty & Staff * Alumni my CalPoly login * Quick Links * Contact Us * Operations * SP Railroad * Events * Forms * Fuels Training * Contact * Maps * * Swanton Pacific Ranch A living and learning laboratory fostering Learn by Doing. * About * Fire Recovery * News * Giving Back to the Ranch * Fuels Management Training Program Home : Ranch Stories Ranch Resources * About the Ranch * Ranch Operations * Swanton Pacific Railroad * News To provide Cal Poly students, faculty, staff and the public with a unique interdisciplinary environment in which to foster the Learn by Doing philosophy by providing educational experiences on a working ranch, supporting diversified agriculture and forest resources while maintaining the integrity of ranch operations.   —Our Mission Ranch Stories WELCOME The history behind Cal Poly's Living Laboratory is rich and treasured and is described here by Al Smith in July 1990. It begins back in Indian days, involves Mexican land grants, agriculture, railroads and a dream by Al Smith. Read more about the mission and history of Swanton Pacific Ranch . FORESTRY Forestry activities are designed to maintain stringent water quality, biological diversity, natural systems sustainability while producing a marketable, renewable resource. Students work alongside professionals during forest inventory and other management activities and embody the Learn by Doing motto. CROPS Rangelands support two cattle operations: a resident cow-calf herd supports the natural grass-fed beef program and stocker cattle provide seasonal student learning. Livestock are a tool used to managed and maintain rangeland water quality, soil quality and diversity of perennial grasses. Back to top LIVESTOCK Rangelands support two cattle operations: a resident cow-calf herd supports the natural grass-fed beef program and stocker cattle provide seasonal student learning. Livestock are a tool used to managed and maintain rangeland water quality, soil quality and diversity of perennial grasses. INTERNSHIPS Join us at Swanton Pacific Ranch where you will gain hands-on skills and training. Intern positions prepare emerging professionals for the daily tasks associated with their discipline. General ranch duties may include: wildlife and livestock water development, riparian fencing, field preparation, irrigation, planting, weeding, harvesting, marketing, animal husbandry, permanent fencing, temporary fencing, equipment maintenance, facility maintenance. FIELD TRIPS & SHORT COURSES Swanton Pacific Ranch welcomes hands-on learning. As an integral component to the ranch's living and learning laboratory, we work hard to provide opportunities for learning and discovery. Instructors are encouraged to utilize the ranch to its fullest educational extent. Recognized for its high biodiversity, the Swanton Valley represents approximately 20% of California's native botanicals, rare and endangered species, conserved lands and sustainably managed resource use across a mosaic landscape. Back to top PROJECTS & RESEARCH Ongoing applied research is an important component of agricultural activities at Swanton Pacific Ranch which support the ranch mission and its Learn by Doing philosophy. These lands lie within the ecosystem of the Scotts Creek Watershed, described as a hot spot for evolutionary processes. These processes remain in balance through the careful management of and sustainable agriculture practices. Field based research projects support educational goals and serve to improve long-term land productivity and net profit. SWANTON PACIFIC RAIL ROAD SOCIETY Cal Poly's live steam railroad! The 1/3 scale railroad is located on the beautiful 3200-acre Swanton Pacific Ranch near Davenport in Santa Cruz County. A dedicated group of volunteers maintain and operate the railroad on behalf of the Cal Poly College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. The Swanton Pacific Railroad serves as an operational memorial to Al Smith who acquired and relocated the trains to the Swanton Pacific Ranch. The rolling stock consists of three one-third scale Pacific-type steam locomotives that were built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, a diesel switcher locomotive and a variety of passenger and maintenance of way railcars. Back to top   Related Content Support SPR How You Can Help News * Inaugural San Luis Obispo Prescribed Fire Training Event Brings Cal Poly, Diverse Partners Together to Burn and Learn * Goats are the Latest Land Management Tool in Preventing Wildfires * Intro to Field Research and Conservation  * Cal Poly’s Swanton Pacific Ranch Receives $4.7 million Grant to Assist with Post-Fire Recovery Efforts, Increase Fire Resilience Strategies See All News Swanton Research Resources on Digital Commons * Explore the research resources available Cal Poly's library Digital Commons   CONNECT WITH CAL POLY * CP Home * Directory * Campus Maps & Directions * University Store * Calendar * Employment * Campus Policies * Contact Us * Privacy Notice * Web Accessibility Statement * Title IX © 2026 California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, California 93407 Phone: 805-756-1111