Njuhsd - Ranch

09/14/2026

We love our local RCD!

Sending gratitude out to the good folks at the NJUHSD Ranch for bringing the mill demo to this year's Farm Day - we look forward to seeing you there!

Njuhsd - Ranch

09/14/2026

School is officially underway, and our first-ever full-time class at the District Ranch is already doing incredible work!

Taught by Denise Cicogni, our Animal Science students are putting the model we have been talking about into action: learn by doing. Students are spending time in the classroom, but they are also stepping outside and experiencing agriculture firsthand right here on the Ranch.

Just the other day, with the help of Rick Luttrell, students used ultrasound technology to check pregnancies in our Ranch sows. They were able to identify developing pregnancies, learn more about the reproductive system, and build hands-on veterinary and livestock management skills in a real-world setting.

And they are just getting started! So far this semester, students have also helped restore and rebuild livestock pens, worked in the garden, and begun planning additional projects around the property.

We are so excited to watch this class grow throughout the year and showcase all of the incredible work these students are doing.

08/26/2026

We couldn’t bee more excited about how well our apiary is doing at the District Ranch!

A huge thank you to Corinne and Richard from Nevada County Bee Craft and our own staff for helping us grow, maintain, and learn how to care for our hives. We are incredibly grateful for their leadership, knowledge, and willingness to help our students and staff build this program the right way.

We’re also so excited to thank one of our newest donors, Jori Hook, who generously provided us with another hive—bringing us to three full colonies at the Ranch!

The bees have absolutely taken to the property, and with our pollinator habitat, gardens, and growing agriculture programs, they have plenty to keep them busy.

At this rate, we’ll have Ranch honey before you can say “bee-lieve it!”

08/25/2026

Our newest Ranch residents are settling right in!

These girls have been on the property for about a month now and are absolutely loving Ranch life. A huge thank you to our amazing interns for refurbishing the old chicken coop that Mr. Phelan had on the property and giving it new life for our growing poultry program.

We recently added nine birds from Pearson’s Feed, and they have quickly made themselves at home; roaming the property, digging through the compost pile, and, apparently, deciding the garden is the perfect place to sleep! 😂

As we continue to grow the flock, there may even be some Ranch eggs to sell. We’re excited to see where this new enterprise goes and what new hands-on learning opportunities it brings for our students.

Stay tuned!!

08/18/2026

With all the buzz about the District Ranch, we want to invite YOU to come see what it’s all about!

That’s right—we’re hosting a Ranch Open House on November 14th for friends, families, and our community!

Come explore the property, see everything we’ve accomplished over the past year, enjoy delicious food brought to you by our student programs, listen to live music, and celebrate the incredible successes of our students.

We can’t wait to open the gates and share the Ranch with you!

📍 See the flyer for more information
🔗 https://forms.gle/ydi1RXu99ik1sPbd7

08/14/2026

Our Ranch interns aren’t just rock stars out at the District Ranch—they’re also doing incredible things in their respective FFA programs!

These students spend countless hours helping keep our Ranch units running smoothly, and then turn around and put that same dedication, creativity, and hard work into their own FFA projects.

Come out to the Nevada County Fairgrounds tonight at 5:00 PM for the Mechanics Auction and support some of these amazing students and the incredible projects they’ve built!

We are so proud of our District Ranch intern team and love getting to watch them shine both at the Ranch and in the show ring, shop, and beyond. Keep up the great work, kids!

08/14/2026

Day Three of the Nevada County Fair is already a roaring success!

We have had such great showings at our exhibits highlighting Career Technical Education, and we highly encourage you to stop by and see CTE in action!

One of the biggest crowd favorites? Our adorable District Ranch baby piglets! These little ones are brought to you by our Swine Unit and animal interns, who have worked hard through the entire process—from breeding and farrowing to daily care and management since day one.

And there’s more! The construction trades programs at Nevada Union have a gorgeous student-built shed available through silent auction near the District Ranch sawmill. The lumber and many of the materials were either donated by community or produced by our District Ranch Sawmill Team, making this a true example of our programs working together from start to finish.

Come say hi, meet our students, see their work, check out the piglets, and experience Career Technical Education in action at the Fair!

08/13/2026

Day Two of the Nevada County Fair is off to a GREAT start!

We had an amazing showing from our District Ranch-bred hogs today, with several making their way into the champion drives! We are so proud of the students who have put countless hours into raising, caring for, and preparing these animals. Seeing their hard work showcased in the ring is what it’s all about!

And the Ranch action doesn’t stop at the livestock barns! Our Ranch interns are spending the week at our booth in the Family Farm, sharing all of the exciting things happening at the District Ranch.

Come by, say hi, meet our interns, and learn more about our livestock programs, forestry, internships, hands-on classes, and everything else the Ranch has to offer!

Keep up the great work, exhibitors—we’re cheering you on!

08/12/2026

It’s the first day of the Nevada County Fair, and the District Ranch is so excited to be back for another great year supporting our students, our county, and our community!

Be sure to stop by and check out the District Sawmill and our Forestry Unit team throughout the week. Our student interns and advisor will be running live sawmill demonstrations each day at 12:30 PM, giving fairgoers an up-close look at how logs are transformed into usable lumber and how our students are gaining real-world experience in forestry products and natural resources.

It’s a fun, engaging opportunity to see firsthand what our students have been working on during their time at the Ranch—and you won’t want to miss it!

Come say hello, watch the sawmill in action, and support these hardworking students.

07/30/2026

🌽🌼 The District Ranch is buzzing—and our garden is producing some wonderful food and flowers!

Our interns and staff recently harvested fresh corn, yellow bush beans, and beautiful flowers that were used to create this colorful arrangement. It is so exciting to see the garden thriving and to watch our students experience the full process, from planting and caring for crops to harvesting and enjoying the results.

We are once again incredibly grateful to Peaceful Valley Garden Supply for their generous donation that helped us kick-start our summer garden. Their support has given our students another meaningful opportunity to learn about food production, plant science, sustainability, and the important role pollinators play in a healthy garden.

We love plants, pollinators, and seeing all this hard work come to life at the Ranch! 🐝🌱