About Park Ranch Meats
Park Ranch is a working livestock ranch based in Minden, Nevada, and serving the surrounding areas of northern Nevada and east-central California. As a family-owned enterprise since 1861, we provide top-quality meats to the general public and a resource for harvesting and processing meats for cattle owners.
How It All Started
Park Ranch was established by the Park Family, who immigrated to northern Nevada in the late 1800’s to start a commercial cattle operation in Topaz, California. David Park took over the family ranch after graduating from Cal Poly in 1990. His goal was clear and simple: to continue to serve the community and help fill in the livestock-processing gap that local ranchers were experiencing.
David and the ranch’s Executive Manager Sarah Shannon transformed one of the warehouses into a 9,600-square-foot federal/custom exempt meat plant. Here, livestock is processed on-site, and our customers can trace the processing of that animal from start to finish, with an inventory list of cuts from that head of livestock.
Encompassing parts of Nevada and California, the ranch has expanded to include Park Livestock and Park Heritage. These operations focus on cattle feed supply and crops that we produce to feed our livestock as well as the livestock owned by area ranchers.
In providing these services to the community, we’re able to continue the legacy and tradition of great-quality beef that’s been a part of the Park family for multiple generations.
Mission Statement
Through sustainable and ethical practices, we aim to foster a connection between our customers and the land, promoting a healthier and more mindful approach to food consumption.
Our Crew
David Park
Owner
David has been involved in ranching in Nevada and California since he was a little boy growing up in Topaz, California. From a young age, he learned about cattle operations and ranch work from his father and grandfather, inspiring him to later pursue a degree in agriculture from Cal Poly.
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David took over the family business from his father in 1990 with the goal of ensuring that the ranch was secure and would continue for future generations of the Park family.
Since assuming leadership of Park Ranch, David has created and launched several businesses here in Minden, Nevada, including Park Heritage, Park Livestock and Park Home Ranch Wedding Venue.
His driving passion is keeping alive the dream of being a rancher in the Carson Valley. On any given day, you’ll see him working the ranch with his faithful dogs by his side, ready to load up and head to the next job.
David extends thanks to all of Park Ranch’s valued customers and clientele, who over the years have helped to make the ranch what it is.
Sarah Shannon
Executive Manager
Sarah has lived in the Minden area for much of her life, graduating from Douglas High School here in the early 2000’s. After moving away for a year, she knew Minden was her home and where she wanted to settle her family.
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She worked in property management for 10 years and then became a stay-at-home mom, raising two spectacular boys. Being a mom was her passion, but she felt she had even more to contribute, so in 2016, she began working at Park Ranch as a bookkeeper and office secretary. She was promoted to executive manager.
In this capacity, she helped launch Park Ranch Meats and convert empty buildings, barns, and an old harvest facility on the ranch into the premier wedding venue of the Carson Valley.
In her free time, Sarah loves cheering on her boys at their sporting events, riding with her husband, Hugh, on their Harley-Davidson, and going to country music concerts with her friends.
Garret Bunyard
Plant Manager
Garret was born and raised in Fernley, Nevada. His mother was a second-grade teacher; his father owns and operates a cattle company. With his father and grandfather as role models, Garret wanted to one day help with his family’s cattle operation.
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In his free time, Garret enjoys starting colts and doing irrigation work. He loves any kind of work with his hands, from building something with scrap wood to fixing one of the many things his girlfriend, Shelby, has a tendency to break.
Garret is a natural leader and loves helping to keep Park Ranch running smoothly and benefiting the community. If you ever have a question about anything going on here, Garret is the man to ask.
Shelby Pate
Master Butcher
Shelby began her career in the meat department of Raley’s Grocery in Yuba City, California, in 2016. She served a two-year apprenticeship and learned the ins and outs of meat cutting, then went to work for Country Butcher in Marysville, California, in 2019, where she learned how to fully process meat.
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While construction for the ranch’s meat operation was finishing up, Shelby worked the front desk and was somewhat of an ambassador, answering questions about the new facility and the products and services it would bring to the community.
When not producing exquisite cuts of meat, Shelby thrives on hiking with her two crazy Labrador retrievers, Chaka and Nova; swing dancing with her partner; or just relaxing and watching a movie with her cat, Simba.
Don Harper
