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Vision Air Iowa
The Midwest Cattleman · September 30, 2021 · P22

Fertility is Jim Bradford's

Number One Angus Philosophy

By Brenda Black
Philosophy is a theory or in the Angus business, hav- wife, Mary,
attitude held by a person ing been with the breed since bought a
that acts as a guiding princi- 1956. His meticulous stipula- farm in Guth-
ple for behavior. Philosophers tions for cows in production rie County,
are the thinkers among us – have earned him multiple Iowa, moving
like Jim Bradford of Brad Z honors, as well as a success- there in 1970.
Ranch in Guthrie Center, Ia. ful livelihood with Angus. They would
Bradford's guiding principle Famed for Angus raise their
for his Angus cattle is fertil- A synopsis of Bradford's nine children
ity, and he has a knack for history, along with his in- there. Ini-
analyzing reality as much as tellectual and agricultur- tially known
potentiality to move his herd al prowess, complemented as Bradford
toward productive behavior. his 2019 induction into the Bros. Angus,
At 87 years young, random American Angus Associa- the farm was
thoughts meander through tion's Heritage Hall of Fame. renamed Brad agriculture. And, in 2011,
Bradford's still sharp mind The biography is published Z Ranch in a show of grati- Wallaces Farmer recognized
and gain personality via on the ranch's website and tude to Walt Zimmerer, who Bradford with an Iowa Mas-
his steel sharp wit. “There's states: bought a major interest in ter Farmer Award. Today,
nothing more beautiful than “While at Iowa State, the farm during the 1980’s the Bradfords continue to
grass carpeted hills when [Bradford] was a member of Midwest Farm Crisis. In the raise Angus cattle with a few
torrential rains begin to fall,” the 1955 national collegiate 1970s and 1980s, Bradford Angus/Simmental compos-
is the beginning of a cascade livestock judging champion- served on the Iowa Beef In- ites.”
of notions. Others include ship team [competing against dustry Board, the National Bradford jokes that his
profound and funny percep- a record-setting 48 teams] Beef Board, and the Ameri- appointment to the Hall
tions like “A huge bump in at the Chicago Internation- can Angus Association board. of Fame “meant that there
the road often causes us to al Live Stock Exposition. By He judged many national and wasn't enough other candi-
bump our head and rethink 1970, Bradford shared own- state cattle shows, as well as dates.” Joking aside, he at-
our priorities” or “The winds ership of two bulls that would some international, includ- tributes much of his tenaci-
of change often bring just help him begin to build his ing an Australian show. In ty and success in beef cattle
that, from dollars to change.” reputation as a producer of 2002, Jim and Mary were production to those who
Bradford has seen change recognized by the National forged the way before him.
in all of its forms. He speaks quality cattle: Big John and Cattlemen’s Beef Association Bradford's grandfather and
Atlas Marshall. Jim and his
from 65 years of experience as regional Environmental father were on the cutting
Stewardship Award winners. edge of focusing on perfor-
In 2008, Bradford was rec- mance from the start.
ognized with an alumni of “My dad was born and
merit award from Iowa State raised on Hereford,” Brad-
University’s Gamma Sigma ford said. “He always fed
Delta, an honor society of some cattle out and we would
ship to Chicago. In 1954,
there was a big run of 27,000
cattle on market in Chicago
that day, and the only thing
going to the scales was black.
We didn't sell our Herefords
until afternoon and got $2.50
per hundred weight less
than the blacks. Dad bought
some Angus bulls straight
away, and put them on Here-
ford cows, and we were in the
Angus business.”