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The Villard family's story is one of pioneering spirit, resilience, and a deep, enduring love for the land. It reflects the rich history of the American West, where the cowboy's rugged individualism was forged. Villard Ranch 1881 stands as a testament to family grit and grace, and to the evolution of the cattle business as the West rose to prominence.

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Founded by Ambrose C. Villard, who was born on July 1, 1851, in Gap, France, in the Hautes-Alpes region, Villard Ranch's legacy began with a dream. Drawn by stories of wealth and opportunity in the Golden West, Ambrose arrived in California in 1872, eager to seek his fortune. He initially settled in Ventura County, where he began raising sheep, but by 1881, he moved to Kern County to expand his operations to both sheep and cattle, establishing Delano as the headquarters for Villard Ranch.

On January 29, 1887, Ambrose married Eugenie Marie Faure, also from Hautes-Alpes, in San Francisco at Notre Dame des Victoires. Together, they raised eleven children, with their eldest sons taking over the ranch's cattle operations in the early 1900s.

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Over the following decades, Villard Ranch expanded its holdings, at one point controlling more than 100,000 acres in Kern County. Today, a proud portion of the original ranch remains in operation, continuing the legacy of cattle ranching that Ambrose and Eugenie began.

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Eric Mein, a fourth-generation landowner, is the great-grandson of Ambrose C. Villard. Embodying the pioneering spirit of his great-grandfather, Eric has carried the torch of the cattle business into the present day. His cattle proudly bear the iconic VA brand—still the same brand used by Ambrose more than a century ago.