The Big Sandy, Montana-based Weaver Quarter Horses is recognized as the 2020 AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder of the Year.
This award is open only to AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeders who exemplify the ranching lifestyle. Ranching Heritage Breeders are working cattle ranches that produce five or more registered American Quarter Horses each year for ranch work. Nominees for the award are chosen by their peers, with final voting done by the AQHA Ranching Committee.
The ranch is operated by AQHA Past President Stan Weaver and his wife, Nancy.
The ranch has produced quality American Quarter Horses for more than 30 years, and they have registered more than 1,700 foals during that time. They began an American Quarter Horse production sale in 1996 and have sold to all 50 states, seven Canadian provinces and four other countries. Weaver has shown his own horses in cutting, reined cow horse and working cow horse. He is involved with the Montana Quarter Horse Association (past president), Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame, Montana Land & Mineral Owners Association, National Cattleman’s Beef Association, Montana Stockgrowers and the Chouteau County Livestock Protection Association.
“The Weaver Quarter Horses program has produced generations of ranch horses that make cowboys proud to ride them,” said AQHA Senior Director of Member Programs Karen McCuistion. “In addition, the Weavers have dedicated countless hours to improving the industry, and we are proud to honor their program with this award.”
The Weavers operate Weaver Cattle Co., a cattle and farming enterprise in North Central Montana, as well as a cattle brokerage firm. Stan and Nancy raised three children on the ranch, all of which with their families continue to work on the ranch and have also expanded their own ranching and farming interests in the area.
Stan has been an AQHA director since 2011. In addition to being an AQHA past president, he has served on a number of committees, was instrumental in developing the AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeders program and currently serves on the AQHA Ranching Heritage Council. Nancy became an AQHA director in 2021.
The Weavers received the 1997 Montana Quarter Horse Association Ranch of the Year Award, and Weaver Cattle Co. was recognized as the 2014 Montana State University Family Business of the Year in the business category for operations in existence at least 50 years.
The Ranching Heritage Breeder of the Year award will be formally presented during the AQHA Breeder Banquet, slated to be hosted during the 2022 AQHA Convention in Las Vegas.
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AQHA
