Contact Us
ABOUT FIVE STAR LAND & LIVESTOCK
Five Star was founded in 1984 when Mark and Abbie were married in Genoa, NV. We both had herds of Angus cattle but Abbie had the reputation herd so we merged them and moved her cattle to Wilton, CA.
Currently Five Star has maintained the herd of Angus purebred cows and hosts one of the better Fall Angus Bull sales in California. In addition, they own an AQHA horse operation producing cutting horses and rodeo horses for their grandkids. The horse program bred and raised a 2013 NCHA Futurity Finalist (one of 25 out of 649 entries). That colt went on to be a Finalist in the 2014 Super Stakes. We also have produced NRCHA Finalists and many class winners. Lastly, Five Star is involved in the wine grape industry with a vineyard comprising Zinfandel and Petite Sirah grapes.
Since Abbie and Mark are both of agricultural roots they have a desire to “give back” to the industry. Mark is a Past CCA President and NCBA Committee Chairperson. He also served as the Western States Angus President.
Abbie was the first woman Director elected to the American Angus Board of Directors where she served two terms. She has been the President of the CBCIA and Chaired the Beef Quality Assurance Program California Cattlemen’s Association. Abbie also has been the President of the California Angus Association.
Both families go back in agriculture quite some time. Mark’s grandmother, Virginia McClelland, was a cowgirl from the Rockies in Colorado. She and her husband ran cattle in the mountains in the early 1900’s. She packed a six gun everyday horseback because of the Indians.
Abbie’s family was instrumental in bringing some of the first Angus cattle to the United States from Scotland. They dominate the record books of the Chicago International Livestock Show with Champion Carloads of Bulls and Pens of Three Bulls. Her grandfather, Earl Ryan, bought a young bull, Earl Marshall, and to this day 95% of all Angus cattle registered in the US trace to him.
In addition to Abbie’s paternal side in the Angus industry, her maternal family consist of the Fanchers and Sperrys of Merced and San Juaquin counties. They received the 125 year award from the California State Fair Heritage program in 2013. The Sperry family made a huge contribution to the farming industry of California serving the Gold Rush with food for the miners and feed for the animals. The Fancher family continue farming in Merced County.
Our daughter, Andra, was very successful in showing her cattle in the Junior Angus program. She had many champions on the west coast and at the national level. Her show career was highlighted by winning the National Showmanship for the National Junior Angus Association contest in Omaha , Nebraska. Ryan was the California State Young Cattlemen’s President and headed the CSU Fresno’s Young Cattlemen Association. He was honored to receive the Bill Verdugo Memorial Award for outstanding achievement in Beef Production from the Animal Science Department at CSU Fresno.
The Nelson family children are all involved in real estate and ranching. Andra sells ranch properties in Oregon and Adam is involved in commercial real estate in Sacramento. Katie sells residential properties in the East Bay and Ryan is a ranch broker in partnership with Mark covering California. The Five Star Legacy continues with both Andra and Ryan having their own commercial cattle.
The next generation (sixth being born and reared in the United States) consist of nine grandchildren ranging in age from 20 to 1 year. Colton Campbell attends Fresno with an Animal Science major and rodeos at the levels of college, CCPRA and PRCA. Caitlin attends Lassen College, also an Animal Science major and college rodeos. Each have a herd of commercial and sport cattle. The remaining seven are very active in swimming, basketball, gymnastics, soccer and riding lessons.
Currently Five Star has maintained the herd of Angus purebred cows and hosts one of the better Fall Angus Bull sales in California. In addition, they own an AQHA horse operation producing cutting horses and rodeo horses for their grandkids. The horse program bred and raised a 2013 NCHA Futurity Finalist (one of 25 out of 649 entries). That colt went on to be a Finalist in the 2014 Super Stakes. We also have produced NRCHA Finalists and many class winners. Lastly, Five Star is involved in the wine grape industry with a vineyard comprising Zinfandel and Petite Sirah grapes.
Since Abbie and Mark are both of agricultural roots they have a desire to “give back” to the industry. Mark is a Past CCA President and NCBA Committee Chairperson. He also served as the Western States Angus President.
Abbie was the first woman Director elected to the American Angus Board of Directors where she served two terms. She has been the President of the CBCIA and Chaired the Beef Quality Assurance Program California Cattlemen’s Association. Abbie also has been the President of the California Angus Association.
Both families go back in agriculture quite some time. Mark’s grandmother, Virginia McClelland, was a cowgirl from the Rockies in Colorado. She and her husband ran cattle in the mountains in the early 1900’s. She packed a six gun everyday horseback because of the Indians.
Abbie’s family was instrumental in bringing some of the first Angus cattle to the United States from Scotland. They dominate the record books of the Chicago International Livestock Show with Champion Carloads of Bulls and Pens of Three Bulls. Her grandfather, Earl Ryan, bought a young bull, Earl Marshall, and to this day 95% of all Angus cattle registered in the US trace to him.
In addition to Abbie’s paternal side in the Angus industry, her maternal family consist of the Fanchers and Sperrys of Merced and San Juaquin counties. They received the 125 year award from the California State Fair Heritage program in 2013. The Sperry family made a huge contribution to the farming industry of California serving the Gold Rush with food for the miners and feed for the animals. The Fancher family continue farming in Merced County.
Our daughter, Andra, was very successful in showing her cattle in the Junior Angus program. She had many champions on the west coast and at the national level. Her show career was highlighted by winning the National Showmanship for the National Junior Angus Association contest in Omaha , Nebraska. Ryan was the California State Young Cattlemen’s President and headed the CSU Fresno’s Young Cattlemen Association. He was honored to receive the Bill Verdugo Memorial Award for outstanding achievement in Beef Production from the Animal Science Department at CSU Fresno.
The Nelson family children are all involved in real estate and ranching. Andra sells ranch properties in Oregon and Adam is involved in commercial real estate in Sacramento. Katie sells residential properties in the East Bay and Ryan is a ranch broker in partnership with Mark covering California. The Five Star Legacy continues with both Andra and Ryan having their own commercial cattle.
The next generation (sixth being born and reared in the United States) consist of nine grandchildren ranging in age from 20 to 1 year. Colton Campbell attends Fresno with an Animal Science major and rodeos at the levels of college, CCPRA and PRCA. Caitlin attends Lassen College, also an Animal Science major and college rodeos. Each have a herd of commercial and sport cattle. The remaining seven are very active in swimming, basketball, gymnastics, soccer and riding lessons.