Brady Ellison: Talented USA Archer with Arizona Beef Roots

Brady Ellison is probably best known for his numerous world and Olympic titles in archery. Still, the fun fact we are excited to share is his background in the Arizona ranching community. Brady was born in Globe, Arizona, to a family from a long line of ranchers who work hard to raise high-quality beef. The connection between ranching and archery is the story we are here to share.

Brady’s love for archery started from deep family roots in hunting, a practical skill. Not only is hunting a beloved pastime, but it is also a way to spend quality time with his family members. Brady’s dad and uncle were archery sportsmen, and Brady followed suit showing a real talent for the sport. Brady started competing in 3D tournaments, in which archers are tasked with hitting targets that are 3D replicas of game animals, like deer and elk. Brady thoroughly enjoyed these competitions and started to travel farther away from home, eventually rising to the national level. His talent, hard work, and dedication to the sport eventually earned him his first shot at the Olympics.

Brady’s list of achievements is a long one, so we’ll just touch on the highlights. He has made four Olympic teams and has three Olympic medals (two silvers and a bronze). He has ranked top seven in the world since 2010, including being named number one twice in that time frame, which is where he is currently ranked. He’s won five World Cup Finals and has the unique distinction of being the only person to use a recurve bow to shoot a 900 score in the Vegas tournament, which is a perfect score. This achievement was made even more exciting by an ESPN sports analyst explaining that this is harder to do than pitching a perfect game. The list continues with over 100 international medals and 40 national titles. Needless to say, Brady is incredibly accomplished in the sport of archery.

Ranching may not be what Brady does day-to-day now, but raising cattle is in his heritage. His family came to Arizona in the 1800s and started ranching in the Payson and Globe area. He did help on his family’s ranches growing up, often with gathering cows and branding, to which Brady gives some credit for his success. Ranching is hard work, and learning that lesson as a kid helped him put in the time and effort needed to be successful in archery competitions. Another aspect of ranching that has helped him achieve this level of success is knowing how to be adaptable. Brady explains, “There are so many things that are out of your control, like if it rains, if enough feed is growing, etc. Being adaptable and doing whatever you have to do to get things done are some of the things that I have taken away from our ranching family and heritage and applied to this sport.”

Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle is a top priority to achieve peak performance. With Brady’s background in raising cattle, he and his family include beef in their healthy diet. It’s an excellent protein source that helps Brady perform at his best during his competitions. Among the robust package of 10 essential nutrients, beef is known for, protein may be one of the most notable. In fact, one 3 oz cooked serving of beef provides 50% of your Daily Value (25 grams) of this vital nutrient—making it an excellent source! That protein ensures Brady can perform to his full capability.

Brady isn’t on the ranch all too often anymore, but he is a massive supporter of farmers and ranchers. He knows the hard work that goes into raising food and wants others to know it. It’s a job that requires skill and dedication along with a tremendous passion for the lifestyle, and he hopes to see more young people step up and enter this field in the future. He acknowledges that the skills he learned on the ranch helped to ensure his success and hopes others can have the same experience.