Sort and Cull

REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- A true icon, a leader and a woman who paved the way for other women in the livestock industry, Minnie Lou Bradley has died.

She was the first woman to receive a degree in animal husbandry from Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State University); the first female member of the Intercollegiate Livestock Judging team; the first woman to win high individual at the International Livestock Judging Contest; and the first female president of the American Angus Association. She has been inducted into the Saddle and Sirloin Portrait Club, the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, and was named an Outstanding Alumnus of Oklahoma State University.

I was honored to nominate and present Minnie Lou with the 2018 Livestock Publications Council Headliner Award for providing positive change in the livestock industry. While I didn't spend much time with her, every moment with her was one in which you listened and learned.

She and her husband, Bill, started their Texas ranch, Bradley 3 Ranch, in 1955 with 3,300 acres and 20 cows. They were one of the first to integrate the use of Angus bulls on Hereford cows. That ranch has now grown to more than 10,000 acres and 400 registered Angus cows and has been in the registered cattle business for nearly 70 years. In 1986, the Bradley's started B3R Country Meats, Inc., which was one of the first facilities to produce beef for the Certified Angus Beef brand Natural. She always wanted to learn more about the cattle she raised and in 1986, created a system for collecting ultrasound and carcass data to develop more predictable genetic packages.

She learned early on that relationship building is what would get you far in agriculture. Along with having a passion for what you do and going at the business with integrity and work ethic.

My friend and cattlewoman, Cheramie Viator, was very close with Minnie Lou for the past 35 years. Knowing that, I reached out to her for her thoughts.

"Minnie Lou was iconic and a true trailblazer. But she didn't think of doing what she did as blazing trails. She just did it," Cheramie said.

She added that together with her family, many employees and interns over the years, Minnie was innovative, progressive and didn't let traditional ways stop them. In and out of the beef industry she was a huge youth supporter. Quite a few local kids had their continuing education supported by her. "She pushed all of us to be better and do more," Cheramie added. "For me, personally, she was a mentor, friend, grandmother, critic and encourager all wrapped into one. I will miss her greatly but will always carry her wisdom and brand in my heart."

Minnie Lou Bradley passed away on Aug. 5, 2025. She would've been 94 in December. She is survived by husband, Bill; her daughter, Mary Lou Bradley Henderson and husband, James; grandson, Raymond Jack Bradley; granddaughter, Mandy Ann Popejoy; and many other friends and family across the country. A celebration of life will be held at the Mashburn Event Center in Childress, Texas, at 2 p.m. on Aug. 18, 2025.

It was a life well lived. Thanks, Minnie Lou, for showing us how to go for what we are passionate about. You will be missed.

Jennifer Carrico can be reached at jennifer.carrico@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal

(c) Copyright 2025 DTN, LLC. All rights reserved.