Box O Quarter Horses of Gordon, Nebraska, are the 2016 AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder of the Year. The award, which is presented by the American Quarter Horse Association and the AQHA Ranching Committee, recognizes the Ranching Heritage Breeders who continue to uphold the ranching tradition.
Box O Quarter Horses is owned and operated by Jecca and Cash Ostrander. The Ostranders care for 800 head of Angus-Limousin-cross cattle and have a remuda of 45 registered American Quarter Horses they breed and use for daily ranch work. The Ostranders joined the AQHA Ranch Heritage Breeder’s program in 2011 and began competing in Zoetis AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenges. They are also donors to the AQHA Ranching Heritage Young Horse Development Program.
“We’re proud to present the inaugural Ranching Heritage Breeder of the Year Award to the Box O,” said Jim Hunt, AQHA Ranching Committee chairman. “The Ostrander family is dedicated to the ranching industry and personifies the characteristics of this award. We appreciate all the hard-working families who are Ranching Heritage Breeders.”
Any ranch that owns five or more registered American Quarter Horse mares used to produce horses for ranch work, is an AQHA member and an AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder is eligible to receive the award. Previous recipients cannot reapply.
The 2016 Ranching Heritage Breeder of the Year award will be formally presented to Willow Creek Ranch and Box O Quarter Horses at the 2017 AQHA Convention in San Antonio. The Ostranders will receive a custom-designed Montana Silversmiths buckle on March 18 during the awards presentation banquet at the Grand Hyatt. For more information on the AQHA convention, visit www.aqha.com/convention.
To learn more about the AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeders program, visit www.aqha.com/ranching.
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