Posted September 24, 2025
DENVER— Jesse and Michelle Weber, owners of Weber Land and Cattle in Lake Benton, Minnesota, were recognized as the Red Angus Association of America’s 2025 Breeder of the Year during the 72nd Annual National Red Angus Convention in Loveland, Colorado. The award honors seedstock producers who uphold the highest standards of genetic excellence and have made significant contributions to the advancement of the breed.
Jesse Weber’s passion for Red Angus began at age 13, when he purchased his first heifer from a neighbor. The docility, maternal strength and adaptability of those cattle made a lasting impression.
“These cattle work for anybody in any environment,” Weber said. “There’s nothing more awesome than seeing a moderate cow raise a monster calf and breed up in the process. That’s where my cattle addiction started, and I haven’t come clean yet.”
For the Webers, receiving the Breeder of the Year Award is both humbling and affirming.
“It’s incredibly humbling to be noticed for something you are passionate about,” Weber said. “Professionally, it’s an honor because I’ve looked up to a lot of these breeders since my early teens. This business comes with many highs and lows, and this is surely a high for us.”
Weber said his journey has been shaped by a wide network of mentors, from breeders and veterinarians to feed representatives, nutritionists and customers.
“There is always someone willing to teach you, and I’ve taken advice from thousands of people who all have one common goal: making great cattle,” he said.
The Webers’ breeding philosophy is centered on responsibility to both their own herd and their customers’ futures.
“You’re not only making decisions for your own operation but also for your customers’ future,” Weber said. “Breeding quality-to-quality, ‘no holes’ kind of cattle weighs heavily on me each year.”
The Webers said their next chapter will focus on raising cattle while raising kids, instilling in the next generation the same values of responsibility and hard work that shaped their own path.
“At the end of the day, all that really matters is the life you’re building and the future you’re creating with the people around you,” he said.
At the same time, they remain committed to producing reliable genetics that strengthen the cattle industry and deliver results for commercial customers in any environment. Weber credits the support of RAAA staff, breeders and field representatives with helping him build his program, and said the recognition reflects more than just his own efforts.
The Red Angus Association of America serves the beef industry by enhancing and promoting the measurable advantages of Red Angus and Red Angus-influenced cattle. RAAA provides commercial producers with objectively described cattle by implementing new technologies and using scientifically sound principles that quantify traits of economic importance to beef producers in all segments of the beef industry. For more information, visit www.RedAngus.org.
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Suggested Cutline: Jesse and Michelle Weber, owners of Weber Land and Cattle in Lake Benton, Minnesota, were recognized as the 2025 Red Angus Breeder of the Year during the 72nd Annual National Red Angus Convention in Loveland, Colorado.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 24, 2025
For more information, contact:
Maclaine Shults-Mauney, RAAA editor & written content specialist
