Brad Fain- Fain Signature Group
Ron Fain- Fain Land & Cattle Co.
Forty-niners spurred by gold fever and homesteaders seeking the American dream traversed the central plains and rugged western terrain in search of finding ways to make a living and a better life. William “Marion” Fain made several trips from the Midwest to California looking for that opportunity.
It was from those trips that he met and married his wife Cary. On what would be their last trek from the prospects of gold and mining, William and Cary stopped in the Arizona Territory, Fort Verde, to restock and rest.
That stop would lead to raising a family. They discovered a love of land would be their “gold” to making a better life.
In 1879, the couple established the first Fain Ranch east of the Verde River called the 16 Ranch. William became involved in establishing roads throughout Central and Northern Arizona, including what is part of I-17 north to Flagstaff.
Their fifth son Granville “Dan” Fain, also known as King of the Range, worked the land through grazing sheep and cattle from the base of Granite Mountain through the Dells to Mingus Mountain and on to the Mogollon Rim. Dan purchased the Rafter Eleven Ranch in 1917 beginning the Fain’s love of Lonesome Valley. To this day, Rafter Eleven Ranch is still an operating cattle ranch in Prescott Valley near the corner of Highway 69 and Fain Road.
In 1928, philanthropy in the Fain family began with Dan seeing a better vision for grazing rights and leases. He made a prime section of grazing land available to the City of Prescott through the Prescott Chamber of Commerce, which is now a part of what is known as the Prescott Regional Airport.
1938 saw the birth of Norman William “Bill” Fain II, the man who would eventually establish Prescott Valley. In the 1940s, the region would experience significant progress as then state Sen. Norman Fain Sr. would play an integral role in getting I-17 and Highway 69 built, making it significantly faster and safer for travelers and commerce to get to Prescott Valley, Prescott and the Verde Valley communities from Phoenix.
In the late 1950s, seeing the long-term value in preserving our rich Native American and mining history, Norman and Dan Fain purchased the Fitzmaurice and Savage properties, preserving the Barlow-Massicks home and the Fitzmaurice ruins dating back to 200 A.D. The purchase would be key in providing rock and gravel operations and bringing water to the region.
These operations helped to create Lynx Lake, 55 acres of fishing and recreation, and Fain Park. The Barlow-Massicks and Fitzmaurice ruins were later gifted to the Town of Prescott Valley as a beautiful park and part of the region’s rich history.
In 1960, Bill Fain and his wife Nancy moved into the Rafter Eleven Ranch Headquarters. Bill believed a better life could be achieved through building a community for all. His vision focused on bringing in health care, schools, industry and the necessary infrastructure including water, roads, gas and electricity.
Six decades after Bill started this vision for Lonesome Valley, today Prescott Valley, Ron and Brad Fain say they advance this vision through the ongoing ranching operations and development of the region, always with a love of the land close to their hearts, an eye on the needs of the community and thought to what the future holds for the next generation of Fains and Prescott Valley residents.
As modern-day pioneers, they say Prescott Valley’s future will be as much about welcoming new residents and asking them to join in a conversation about the region’s values, vision, as it is about how together all can continue to make this a great place.
They see Fain Signature Group in the heart of this conversation
If it supports the community, embraces growth and works to continue to make this a great place for all, the future will be bright and full of opportunity for their kids and grandkids. If the conversation is focused around stopping progress, creating division, and fear about the future then the future may look much different.
To continue what Marion Fain started over 145 years ago in creating a place where people can make a better life for themselves and their families, “Our challenges are not much different: sustainable growth., evolving political environments, limited resources,” they say.
“By looking to what will be of value for generations to come, we continue to support the region through our youth to make our community stronger. Vital projects such as the Boys and Girls Club of Central Arizona — Fain Branch, and the soon to be YMCA of Prescott Valley, we believe are crucial to honor our family’s longstanding commitment to creating opportunities for communities in pursuit of a better life.”
