Jim S. Williams, Boling, Texas has been named the 2024 inductee of the prestigious Saddle and Sirloin Portrait Gallery. His portrait will be unveiled at an induction banquet, Nov. 17 during the North American Livestock Exposition in Louisville, KY. Williams will be the 379th member added to this historic gallery of livestock standouts. The award is the highest honor bestowed on an animal agriculture leader who has made major contributions to the livestock industry in the U.S and abroad as judged by their peers.
Williams has had one home his adult life and that is on the V8 Ranch, one of the world’s premier registered Brahman operations. He represents the sixth generation to continue a commitment to excellence in the seedstock segment and continues a legacy initiated by his great-great-grandfather, J.D. Hudgins, who is the founder of the renowned J.D. Hudgins, Inc Brahman Ranch.
Williams was a gifted athlete in high school and after a career-ending injury in college, he transferred to Texas A&M University. His interest in cattle became his passion, as his knowledge and understanding of animal genetics and breeding flourished. He graduated in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science and he returned to the ranch and began to make his mark in the industry.
Under his leadership, V8 Ranch has been a trailblazer for adopting advanced technologies such as the incorporation of performance measurements in the 70’s, embryo transfer, and IVF, as well as use of DNA based genomics. V8 has also been a leader across breeds in the marketing of purebred genetics with many firsts to their credits in this area.
Visual appraisal is also paramount to Williams in making mating and herd selections and the show ring has been a major force in the growth and popularity of the V8 Ranch. Since 1976, V8 Ranch has exhibited 66 National or International Grand Champions, which tops Brahman history records.
V8’s reach extends far beyond the U.S and the ranch’s genetics can be found in more than 50 countries and on six continents. Along with his dad, Sloan, V8 Ranch satellite herds were established in Brazil and Zimbabwe.
In addition to the Brahman herd, V8 Ranch is home to a 1,500 head Brahman based commercial cattle operation along the Gulf Coast of Texas. In the early 2000’s, Williams founded and managed V8 Shorthorns, where the operation exhibited national and junior national champions, as well as three Shorthorn Show Heifers of the year. His daughters were heavily involved in the junior association on a national level, also.
Williams has continually given back to the industry and served in many leadership capacities. He is a two-term past president of the American Brahman Breeders Association, a three-term past president of the American Shorthorn Association and has held executive board positions on the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, U.S Meat Export Federation and was chairman of the Texas Beef Council.
For 48 years, he has been judging cattle across all breeds and has presided over more than 1,500 shows at all levels. He has judged 33 national breed shows, 44 state fairs, as well as the most prestigious junior nationals, and steer shows in the nation. His judging ability has also been sought after in shows in Brazil, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Colombia, and Thailand.
His expertise and knowledge as also made him a sought-after speaker and panel member across many forums in the U.S., as well as five foreign countries.
His contributions and love for cattle has earned him considerable recognition including the 2012 BIF Seedstock Producer of the Year, Builder of the Breed honor from the American Shorthorn Association, honorary member status for Texas A&M University Saddle & Sirloin Club, Texas Junior Livestock Association and the Texas Shorthorn Association Progressive Breeder Award. In addition, he has received the Premier Breeder Award, an honor jointly presented by the San Antonio Livestock Exposition and Canadian Western Agribition. He was inducted in the Showtimes Magazine Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2013 the Best of the Barns contest selected him as the Best Livestock Judge and in 2023 V8 Ranch was acknowledged as the Best Show Cattle Operation.
Williams and his wife, Luann, his high school sweetheart reside on the ranch in Boling, Texas, about an hour outside of Houston. He has also made time to lead his family and serve in various leadership capacities in his church, local school board and Farm Bureau. He has served on various committees and councils for Texas A&M University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He is also a strong believer in youth programs and can always be supporting 4-H, FFA and sports activities, as well as visiting with students of all ages in the beef industry. The Williams family has created an endowed scholarship at Texas A&M University for graduate students interested in researching and improving Bos indicus cattle.
An oil portrait of Williams has been commissioned by renowned artist, Richard Halstead, and will be framed and hung when the award is presented in November. Texas A&M University, American Brahman Breeders Association and the American Shorthorn Association collaborated to nominate Williams for this prestigious honor.
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