brad and trixie Grill family

Growing up in Iowa on my family farm I (Brad) always had a few crossbred cows around. Two of my favorites that I can remember were a couple of old red angus cows. They were deep bodied, big ribbed, moderate framed cows that always brought in a good calf. Shortly after that we bought a red angus bull to use on the herd. The crossbred calves that we got out of him on this small herd of cows sealed the deal for me that the red angus breed was what I wanted to be a part of. I bought my first registered red angus cow my senior year in high school and have slowly been adding to it through the years. My senior year of high school my family moved to Hot Springs, SD and after 5 years of college, I returned to the area and began ranching.

I will be the first to admit that when I first started buying registered cattle, I didn’t have a goal in mind. I was buying cows that had popular pedigrees and good numbers. I soon realized that many of these genetics wouldn’t work in the environment I lived in and my goal began to develop.

In 1999 I ran into a young lady working in the cattle barn at the Black Hills Stock Show and two years later we were married. At that time, Trixie and I established the B Lazy T Ranch.  We have continued to add to our herd of cattle and kids through the years. 

Braden was born in 2004 and grew up with a love for sports and an obsession for hunting. He started his own registered herd of Red Angus cattle and bought his first dozen ewes in 2017 to start raising a sheep herd. He has since graduated high school and chased his lifelong dream of joining the military. He is currently a combat engineer in the United States Marine Corp.

Brylee is currently a senior in high school and plans to attend college for a career in the veterinary technology. 

Both kids grew up with a love for 4-H and spent their growing up years heavily involved and being shaped by its priceless learning lessons. It was the highlight of their summers. 

Trixie is my jack of all trades. Besides helping with all the daily chores and work, she keeps up with kids, house and also helps wherever and whenever needed.... she does calving, A. I. preg. checking, clipping our sale bulls, you name it. I am thankful to have her and the kids at my side. We truly enjoy the friends that we have made in the ranching business and feel blessed daily that we can raise our family in the rural lifestyle.