Famed Canadian stock contractor Weatherly dies at 72

Stan Weatherly, who founded Big Country Rodeo in 1971 and turned it into one of Canada’s finest rodeo stock contracting firms, died June 8 at Stettler (Alberta) Hospital and Care Center. He was 72. The cause of death has not been established, but the Botha, Alberta, rancher had complained the night before of abdominal and hip pain. Weatherly was the elder statesman of Canadian stock contractors, having supplied stock to the Calgary Stampede for nearly three decades and every Canadian Finals Rodeo since its inception in 1974. His best-known bucking stock included two-time CFR saddle bronc champion War Cry (2005-06), 1980 Calgary Stampede champion bareback horse Tanya Tucker, and Stampede champion bulls Cowtown’s Raisin’ Hell, a two-time winner, and Handyman. “Right now, we probably have about 140 bucking horses and 60 bulls,” said Warren Weatherly, who admits he hasn't looked too far into the future. “Certainly we will honor our commitments to the end of the year, absolutely.”...more