Dan Sparling, Owner/Operator Bellwether Farm

Dan has loved horses since he was a kid living within spitting distance of the Belmont Race Track and listening to stories from his stepfather, a jockey during the days of War Admiral’s dominance. But, his life took a bit of a left turn when he met a girl from North Dakota and found himself settled in cowboy country. He and Veronica built a respected construction business in Bismarck. For 35 years they built and remodeled dream homes for their clients. They raised three kids and a number of horses on their land along the little Missouri River.

Now retired, a word that doesn’t really apply, Dan is the farm manager, chief architect, general contractor, assistant trainer, bobcat operator, and grandpa in residence at Bellwether Farm. He is an active member of the nonprofit North Dakota Badlands Horse Registry. Two of his horses, Bashful and Eagle, came out of Theodore Rosevelt National Park. He is the beloved grandpa (boppa) to four grandkids and several “grand-dogs.”