WWOM: Rachel Cutrer

Rachel Cutrer is a 7th generation Texas rancher and one of the world’s most passionate breeders of Brahman cattle. With her husband and daughters, she owns and operates B.R. Cutrer, Inc. one of the largest Brahman cattle operations in the United States and home of the 2019 International Champion Brahman Female.

She is also the founder and owner of Ranch House Designs, Inc., a marketing company that represents thousands of ranchers and ag businesses worldwide.

Her passion is sharing her love of God, ranching, wildlife and the land with others to help share the story of the western lifestyle and the great people in the business.

Rachel gets her inspiration from the generations of great Texas women in ranching who are smart business women, talented cattlewomen, and loving wives and mothers. Her namesake, Rachel Northington Hudgins, survived the Texas revolution, escaping Santa Anna on the Runaway Scrape to settle in Egypt, Texas. As a young widow, she purchased large amounts of land in Wharton County and with her four sons eventually founded the J.D. Hudgins ranch in Hungerford. Rachel’s great-great grandmother, Ethel Hudgins, was another pioneer in Texas ranching. In the 1920s, she owned and operated her own dairy, and cared for many of the herd bulls of the J.D. Hudgins Ranch. Her husband was a “city guy” and Ethel managed the ranching operations for her family, which eventually would become the Forgason Division of J.D. Hudgins. And Rachel’s grandmother, Mollie Williams, was an All Around Cowgirl, cutting horse champion, and rodeo queen with a business and cow sense as smart as any man. She helped her husband Sloan found a rodeo stock contracting company in the 1960s and 1970s. They later purchased V8 Ranch, a championship Brahman cattle operation where Rachel was part of for four decades. All of these women exemplified grit, perseverance, courage, and kindness, and that’s what drives Rachel in her path of excellence every day.

WesternWomen.com sat down with Rachel to ask her a couple of questions.

How would you define your style?

Rachel: Traditional ranchy –  jeans and boots, belt buckle, ranch t-shirt but with classic staples. I wear my cowboy boots pretty much every day of the week – whether it’s going to church, work, or being on the ranch. My go-to brands are Rios of Mercedes, Leddys and Rocket Buster. Even though I’m working outside a lot I still like to wear designer jeans. But, some days, I might be showing cattle to a foreign dignitary so I might need to step it up a little in style! In that case, I like a boho or a Mexican style. Usually though, most days, I’m not really that flashy, just a down to earth working mom and ranch wife.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?

Rachel: Work hard, be humble, and have faith!

What advice or words of encouragement would you give to other Western Women?

Rachel: Today, there’s no limit to what western women can do! The thing I love about western women is their fire, their passion, their grit. Western women can get things done! The women I love most are all western women, and there is no better circle to have when you need a friend, when you need inspiration, or when you just want to have a good time. Treasure your friendships with other women – support each other, raise each other up. Every woman out there has an amazing and unique gift to give this world – and we should celebrate that in each other.

What is your favorite part about the Western Lifestyle?

Rachel: The land and the livestock – and the people! To me, there’s nothing better than being outdoors on your land – with a big beautiful Brahman bull out there in your pasture – gazing out over the sunset and riding in a pickup truck with family or friends you love. Or, that amazing feeling when you’re just flat worn out at the end of a day from hard work, but how proud you are knowing you’ve done a job well and given it your all. And, the people in the ranching lifestyle and western lifestyle are hands down, just amazing. By being in this business I’ve been able to meet friends all around the world – some we don’t even speak the same language and we communicate via emoji – but we share a love of ranching and cattle and we just connect. There is nothing better!

What do you count as your greatest achievement?

Rachel: My greatest achievement is being a mom, and being a friend that people can trust and count on. And, sharing my faith – including good times and bad mistakes – with others to try to be a light in the world and a friend to all. It’s all about making things better for others and for the next generation.