Meet the Anglers: Challenge Cup - Team O’Reilly (#7)

Ron Nelson + Martin Villa

GTTS-Erie-D1-Wix-PMoore-19.jpg

2025 General Tire Team Series - Challenge Cup Teams

Major League Fishing

Nelson_4158.png

Bass Pro Angler Ron Nelson

Major League Fishing

Ron Nelson

Berrien Springs, Michigan

It was no surprise when Ron Nelson won Angler of the Year for the 2020 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and the 2023 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, having built a solid reputation on the Toyota Series for several years before that. On the Toyota Series, he won Smith Mountain Lake in 2013 and Lake Champlain back-to-back in 2017 and 2018. He went on to earn the title of 2019 FLW Polaris Rookie of the Year and soon found himself on the Bass Pro Tour. He went on to place third at his REDCREST debut in 2024 and followed it up with a ninth-place finish at REDCREST 2025.

FUN FACT

Nelson is an avid biker in his down time, and enjoys walking the beach with wife Karla and their two pups, Adori and Annie.

Career Wins3
Top 10s26
Top 20s51
REDCREST Appearances2
Career Winnings$977,733

GTTS-Erie-D6-Takeoff-PMoore-03.jpg

Martin Villa

Major League Fishing

Martin Villa

Auburn, California

Martin Villa made his Bass Pro Tour debut in 2024 with a Top-10 finish at Stage One on Toledo Bend.

FUN FACT

Martin Villa considers Lake Anna to be his home lake. He started with fly fishing and remains a big fan of it, enjoying cooking what he catches.

Career Wins
Top 10s2
Top 20s5
REDCREST Appearances1
Career Winnings$299,774
Related Stories
Quinn Rutt of Upstream Ranch previews the Nebraska cattle operation’s 49th Annual Production Sale where buyers can expect standout sire groups and a blend of long-standing ranch practices with modern genetic selection.
Brent Graves of StockShowAuctions.com takes us to Grayson County to see the damage from a historic winter ice storm and what it will take to rebuild.
Tennessee 4-H members Jayden Hesson and Matthew Rochford joined us to discuss how 4-H is helping young leaders plan for the future of agriculture.
Matt Brockman, Communications Director for the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, joined us with a look at how the legendary event is moving forward—weather and all.
Marilyn Schlake with the UNL Department of Agricultural Economics joined us for a closer look at the evolving role of livestock sale barns.
Auction manager and West Texas A&M University student Presley Graves joined us to discuss the growth of StockShowAuctions.com and its impact on youth in agriculture.

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD News and FarmHER + RanchHER. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, bringing a decade of digital experience in broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and Kansas congressman Dan Glickman joined RFD News to share his outlook on agricultural policy, bipartisan cooperation, and the challenges facing farmers today.
The bill has already cleared the House Agriculture Committee and is headed toward a full House vote, but the timeline for final passage remains unclear. But the question is, when exactly? Could it possibly be a nice little gift for Easter?
Tidal Grow’s AlignN delivers encapsulated nitrogen to leaves, boosting in-season response, yield gains, and farm profits.
Katie Keener with the National Women in Agriculture Association joins us to celebrate women in agriculture and spotlight programs and initiatives aimed at empowering female producers across the country.
Nationwide’s Elizabeth Duncan and Traci Via with Agriculture Future of America highlight the impact of women in agriculture and how mentorship and partnerships empower future farmers and ranchers.
UNL student fellow Alison Walbrecht shares her perspective on building support for agricultural research, extension, and teaching while gaining hands-on insight into federal policymaking.
Rural Lifestyle & Entertainment Shows
One of RFD Networks’ many efforts to showcase stellar American musical craftsmanship, “The Bluegrass Trail” showcases the greatest Bluegrass artists across the USA performing time-honored songs—many presented for the very first time. It’s a celebration of this nation’s musical roots right here on our Nashville stage!
“America’s Gospel Music” presents the nation’s premiere Gospel Music artists live in concert from The Wonders Center in Dickson, Tennessee.
In the harsh Australian Outback, water drillers Danyelle and Anthony Haigh give up their nomadic life of searching for water for cattle ranches, to offer their two sons, Heath and Theo, a more settled life. They swap water drilling for something they’ve never done before – farming.
RFD-TV’s newest music series, “On the Record,” presented by John Deere, takes viewers on a journey through the heart of country music. Hosted by renowned broadcaster, Suzanne Alexander, the show features long-form interviews with today’s biggest artists and the veterans who inspired them. “On the Record” also gives viewers a front row seat to intimate performances and exclusive music video releases, highlighting the broad scope of Nashville’s talent.
Presented by Lehman’s & Farm Show Magazine, join us for the best in Cajun Cookin’ with the master cook, Mr. Justin Wilson, as he tells funny Cajun stories and demonstrates the Cajun way of cooking up some WILD GAME, CHICKEN, BEEF, SEAFOOD & PORK. I Garontee!