About Us

Swanton Pacific Ranch is a 3,200 acre educational and research facility that is owned by the Cal Poly Corporation and managed by the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.

The Ranch was donated to the College in 1993 by the late Al Smith. A Cal Poly graduate and founder of Orchard Supply Hardware, Al had specific goals, "...that Swanton Pacific Ranch be maintained as a working ranch and used exclusively for agriculture, recreational, educational purposes."

Faculty and graduate students are actively pursuing research opportunities, utilizing the forest, range, and watershed resources within the Ranch.

Mission
To provide Cal Poly students, faculty, staff and the public with a unique interdisciplinary environment in which to live and learn, to foster the "Learn by doing" philosophy by providing learning experiences on a working ranch with diversified agriculture and forest resources while maintaining the integrity of the Ranch.