John L. Braly was born in California and raised on a cattle ranch in Newhall, California. While in Newhall, John showed beef cattle in 4-H, team roped and played football in high school where he was named Scholar Athlete of the Year his senior year.

John received his Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Science and Management from the University of California at Davis. He was president of the UC Davis Rodeo Club, served on two Dean’s committees, was an academic peer advisor and was a member of the Livestock and Dairy Judging Teams.

John was also a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and served as the Fraternity Treasurer.

John was employed as the Assistant Manager for Bidart Bros. in Bakersfield, California. The operation ran 5200 mother cows in California and Nevada and fed 25,000 head annually. Prior to moving to the California Cattlemen's Association, John spent a year with Kern Livestock Supplement Co., Inc. in Bakersfield, CA handling livestock supplement sales for California, Nevada and Arizona.

John served 16 years with the California Cattlemen’s Association, 12 years as the Executive Vice President and the Secretary/Treasurer of the California Cattlemens' Association Feeder Council representing the beef cattle feeding industry. Prior to filling the Executive Vice President position, John served as the Director of Government Relations.

As a graduate of the University of California, Davis, John has served as a member of the Animal Agriculture Research Center Board and the Animal Science Development Board. He also served as the First Vice President of the Alpha Gamma Rho Alumni Board.

John has also served at the pleasure of the California Secretary of Food and Agriculture as an Advisory Board Member for the Bureau of Market Enforcement and Bureau of Meat and Poultry Inspection.

Locally, John was a member of the Board of Directors for the Galt Irrigation District. On the national level,  John was a member of the National Cattlemens Association Affiliate Executive Officer Committee and served on the Revenue Development Transition Team for the national consolidation effort and the Blue Ribbon Commission.

In October of 2002 John joined the NCBA team and served as the Vice President for Industry and Member Services where he oversaw the membership, education and publication functions of the organization.  In his capacity he also represented the organization at numerous producer functions across the United States giving presentations related to policy issues in Washington, DC and the policy positions of the organization.

In October 2006, John accepted the invitation to join Destron Fearing as the Vice President of Business Development in the Animal Applications Division. In May 2008 John added the North American sales team and government affairs duties to his responsibilities. In this position he managed 7 North American sales positions that work through distribution with our line of livestock, pet and equine products and their outlets and represents the company in Washington, DC.

John currently serves as the CEO of Colorado Gourmet Potatoes, LLC located in Center, Colorado and is a broker with Mason and Morse Ranch Company specializing in ranch and recreational real estate. John and his wife of forty years, Debbie, a registered nurse, have two grown sons, Layne and Shawn.

John is a graduate of Class XVIII of the California Agricultural Leadership Program and a member of Rancheros Visitadores, American Quarter Horse Association, National Reining Horse Association, National Reined Cowhorse Associaton and the Roundup Riders of the Rockies.