About Us
We’re California cattle ranchers and entrepreneurs with a passion for small towns, small business, and family-centered food.
Five Marys is a family operation, with roots in agriculture on both sides of the family. The youngest Marys are 7th-generation Californians with ancestors dating back to 1851. We’re proud to be carrying on a family legacy in the industry and paving our own way.
In 2013, I was a serial entrepreneur and Brian was a lawyer. We were living in Silicon Valley with our four girls. Together, we had become accidental restaurateurs. Life was good, but we felt something was missing. We dreamed of finding some land where we could ranch and raise free-range kids in the dirt and sunshine.We weren’t looking to leave the city and move to the country. But then: this ranch found us
We wanted to make this our life. We didn’t just dream it, we did it
With a lot of hard work and heart, historic Sharps Gulch Ranch became Five Marys Farms… and now Five Marys Ranch
What started as a dream to raise cattle for beef for our restaurants became a cattle ranch, where we work side-by-side, raising livestock and our girls in green pastures at the base of the Western mountains
Now we rise with the roosters and live by the seasons, producing the best meats and homegrown products we can be proud of
At the end of each day when the sun goes down, we tuck into a home-cooked meal, shared around our family table. This is the life we were always meant to be living. We wouldn’t have it any other way
This wasn’t where our story began, but it’s where our story became our life and we continue to be dedicated to bringing you the best meats and products from our ranch to your table
Thanks for being a part of our story.
XO,
Mary & Brian
WHY FIVE MARYS?
• We believe in selling only the finest meat and the finest meat comes from animals and land that are well cared for.
• There are no shortcuts.
• We’re a small family ranch and together as a family we vigilantly care for each of our animals.
• Our Black Angus cattle, Navajo Churro lambs, and Berkshire heritage pigs spend their lives on our green pastures and hills rich in minerals with plenty of sunshine and fresh Northern California mountain air.
• We also support two neighboring ranches who raise pastured pork and grass-fed lamb to the same quality standards we do so we have plenty to share with our customers year round.
• You can experience the difference in the taste of our beef, lamb, and pork.
• Our meat is never treated with antibiotics or growth hormones.
• We are GMO free and raise our livestock as all-natural as possible.
• Our beef is finished on pasture grass and steam-flaked GMO-free barley.
• Our animals are processed at our first-class USDA-certified cut-and-wrap facility and each cut has complete traceability to our animals.
• Our ground beef and steaks are all dry-aged for 14-28 days for tenderness and flavor you won't find many places other than the premier steakhouses.
• We strive to bring the finest meat to your table, as well as the real story behind it, so you always know just where your food comes from.
ARE YOU ALL REALLY NAMED MARY?
We get that question a lot… and the answer is yes! Five Marys was named by Brian for his five Marys: his wife, Mary, and their four daughters: MaryFrances (Francie), MaryMarjorie (Maisie), MaryJane (JJ), and MaryTeresa (Tessa), all named after strong and memorable grandmothers and aunts.
M5 ENTREPRENEURS
Inspired by Mary’s story? Ready to launch a business of your own? Already in business and ready to scale up? Learn directly from Mary and connect with other entrepreneurs to build your business.
"In this course, I offer guidance and advice on how to actually make a living by starting and running a small business from scratch, without requiring a lot of outside professionals. With a strong foundation and doing things right from the start, and by learning the tools to do these things yourself… you can do it!"
M5 RANCH SCHOOL
Try your hand at age-old skills like canning and animal husbandry, plus modern-day skills inspired by life on the ranch — with online lessons and activities for curious kids and a community for parents who are looking to enhance and expand their children’s learning.
FIVE MARYS BURGERHOUSE
Get a taste of the ranch at our historic burgerhouse in downtown Fort Jones! Our Bourbon Bacon Burger is a customer favorite, and don’t miss the M5 Sidecar made with our own Five Marys Bourbon or Whiskey. Take a bottle home; it’s only available at Five Marys Burgerhouse!
11825 Main Street, Fort Jones, CA 96032Hours: Mon-Thurs 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Fri 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sat 8 a.m.-9 p.m. (8-noon for breakfast).
Closed Sundays! 530.468.4555
COOKBOOKS & RECIPES
Five Marys Family Style and Ranch Raised Cookbooks feature Mary’s favorite, tried-and-true recipes ranging from dinners and breakfast to desserts and cocktails. To get your own, click here or purchase on Amazon.
Find more of Mary’s recipes here on the website and on her Pinterest page.
Ranch Raised Reviews
"A book that makes you want to leave the city and move to a ranch to have this kind of life yourself. Filled with drool-worthy recipes and beautiful memories. I can’t wait to try these dishes!"
—Tiffani Thiessen, actress, producer, TV host and author
"Hallelujah for this cookbook from trailblazing rancher Mary Heffernan—I’m excited to cook delicious, quality meals from it!"
—Eva Shockey, mama, wife, author, TV show host, and social media influencer
