Lazy JB Angus is a fifth-generation, family-owned Angus operation located just south of Montrose, Colorado, with a legacy rooted deeply in American agriculture. Founded on hard work, resilience, and an unwavering belief in the Angus breed, Lazy JB Angus proudly celebrated 100 years in business—a milestone built by generations who refused to quit when faced with adversity.

Our Beginnings: 1924–1950s

The Lazy JB story began in 1924 near Louisville, Colorado, when Italian immigrants John and Rose Biella, along with their son Frank and his wife Elizabeth, purchased the land that would become the foundation of the ranch. The Lazy JB brand itself was officially purchased in April of 1926.
Like so many agricultural families of the time, survival during the Great Depression required grit and sacrifice. Frank worked long hours in the coal mines, while Elizabeth—known as Liz—managed the home operation, milking cows and caring for chickens. She sold milk, cream, eggs, and butter to families in Louisville, ensuring the ranch endured through the hardest of times. Their belief that hard work could overcome hardship became a core value that still defines Lazy JB Angus today.
Frank and Liz raised three children—June, Donna, and Richard—and it was Richard Biella’s passion for Angus cattle that would forever shape the future of the operation.

The Angus Foundation

At just 16 years old, Richard received his first Angus heifer as a Christmas gift from his parents. Appropriately named “Black Diamond,” after the coal mine where Frank worked, she became the foundation female of what began as a commercial Angus herd and later evolved into a premier registered Angus operation.
Richard was deeply involved in 4-H and FFA, exhibiting steers and heifers at the county and state levels. In 1952, he participated in the prestigious National Western Stock Show Catch-It Contest, further solidifying his lifelong connection to the show ring and the Angus breed.
In 1954, Richard married Elaine DeSantis, and together they raised four children—Kathi, Christy, Jenny, and Richard Jr. All were actively involved in the cattle operation, showing cattle at the local county fair and, by the 1970s, competing at the Colorado State Fair, Western Regional Junior Angus Show, and the National Junior Angus Show.

Building a National Reputation

A pivotal moment came in 1974, when Kathi met Forrest “Frosty” Toyne of Sedgwick, Colorado. Under the guidance of renowned Angus consultant Cy Winkler, Frosty had assembled one of the most elite Angus herds in the country. That fall, Richard and Kathi were given the rare honor of selecting from Toyne’s herd—choosing a young Emulous heifer that would go on to win Grand Champion Female at the Colorado State Fair Junior Show.
That moment marked the beginning of Lazy JB Angus’s rise onto the national stage.

The Creamer Generation

Kathi’s dedication to the Angus breed was as strong as her father’s. In 1985, she married Jeff Creamer, and together they continued to grow the cattle operation. Their family expanded with the birth of Brandon (1987) and Britney (1989)—both of whom were raised with a love for agriculture in their blood, tagging along to check cows, feed livestock, and attend shows across the country.
In 1995, Brandon selected his first heifer, Right Time Barbara, from the Forrest Toyne herd. Shown at the Colorado Junior Angus Show and Boulder County Fair, she became one of the most influential donor females in the early years at  Lazy JB. Her daughters and granddaughters produced multiple champions and many of the ranch’s highest-selling bulls.
Brandon’s leadership extended beyond the ranch. He earned the American Angus Auxiliary Scholarship in 2005, was elected to the National Junior Angus Association Board of Directors in 2007, and served as Vice Chairman of the Board. He graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Animal Science and is now full-time at Lazy JB Angus.
Britney’s Angus journey began early as well—showing heifer calves by the age of five. In 2001, at just 11 years old, she selected Lazy JB Lexus 131, a heifer that would later be named Grand Champion Female at the 2002 American Royal ROV Angus Show and become a  prolific female in the herd.
Britney followed a path of national leadership, earning the American Angus Auxiliary Scholarship, serving as Chairman of the National Junior Angus Association Board, and winning the prestigious National Showmanship Contest in 2010. She holds a Master’s degree from Oklahoma State University and today manages all marketing and sales for Lazy JB Angus while also working in the livestock industry beyond the ranch.

Recognition & Legacy

The Creamer family and Lazy JB Angus have been featured in numerous national and international publications and are widely recognized as one of the premier registered Angus herds in the country.
Notable honors include: - American Angus Association Herdsmen of the Year (2023) – Jeff & Kathi Creamer - Western National Angus Futurity Herdsmen (2010) - 2010 Roll of Victory Show Heifer of the Year - 2010 Roll of Victory Runner-Up Show Bull of the Year - Consistent placement among the top herds in the Roll of Victory program.
These achievements reflect the passion, knowledge, and relentless work ethic that define Lazy JB Angus.

A New Home in Montrose

In 1998, as development surrounded the original ranch near Louisville, Lazy JB Angus relocated to Montrose, Colorado. Having long summered cattle on mountain pastures, the herd adapted seamlessly to life on Colorado’s Western Slope.
For more than 25 years, Montrose has been home to Lazy JB Angus—where both challenges and opportunities shaped the operation into the storybook version it is today.
In 2025, Jeff and Kathi Creamer, alongside Brandon and Britney, faced one of the most difficult challenges in the ranch’s history: purchasing the entire operation from Kathi’s siblings to ensure the continuation of Lazy JB Angus. It was a familiar story in American agriculture—one where legacy and land must be fought for.
With the same tenacity that carried their ancestors through the Great Depression, the Creamer family persevered, securing the future of the ranch and proudly celebrating 100 years of Lazy JB Angus.

Today & Tomorrow

Today, Lazy JB continues to grow in both numbers and quality, located just two miles south of Montrose. Every family member plays a vital role, united by a shared commitment to producing superior Angus cattle and honoring the generations who came before them.
It is the firsthand knowledge of what cattle carrying the Lazy JB brand can do—and the relentless desire to improve—that continues to bring customers, friends, and visitors from across the country.
We invite you to visit Lazy JB Angus, experience our black cattle, and take in the breathtaking scenery of Western Colorado—where tradition, progress, and passion meet.