Life on the ranch is cyclical. In the fall, we wean and ship. In the winter (and throughout the year at this point), we feed. In the spring, we calve. And, in the early summer, we brand.
With the current climate/weather/lack of rain, our branding days have decreased drastically. We only have about a quarter of the typical amount of calves to brand this year. So, we accomplished it all in one Friday and Saturday.
A branding goes a little something like this:
First, we gather a lot of help. Whether it's neighbors, family, friends or at times those looking to experience life on the ranch for a day, we get the crew established a few weeks out. This time we had about twenty people total (that includes those of us just watching)! About a week out, whoever is cooking plans the breakfast and lunch. This year, I had Friday to plan for, and we had breakfast biscuits around 5:30 am and then Italian meatballs, pasta, salad, bread and blueberry cheesecake for lunch. In that same week, work is done here to get the cattle moved from their pastures to land closer to the pens to make gathering on the day-of a bit easier.
On the day-of, the help gathers early to have breakfast and saddle the horses (before or right at sunrise). Then, the crew leaves on horseback to begin gathering the cows and calves and moving them toward the pens. Once gathered, the calves are separated from their mamas and the branding supplies are readied. As the branding irons heat up, two people mount their horses and take their turn as the "draggers."
Their job is to rope and drag the calves to the "flankers" who get the calf on the ground and ready to brand.
Once on the ground, the calves are branded, ear marked, given vaccinations, and cut (if they are bull calves and we don't want to keep them for bulls).
Done. One calf down, and the process is repeated as the crew takes turns with different jobs until the job is complete!
Often, the cattle are not close enough together to brand all in one set of pens, so the gear is loaded up after one set is complete, and the process begins again at a different location.
We also typically have some spectators:
These men and women are the real deal. They don't wear hats and spurs as fashion accessories. Their gear serves a purpose. They work hard, day in and out, to not only provide for their families, but for a nation dependent upon agriculture.
I'm proud to be a part of that. And, the little guys await their turn to carry on the tradition...
For us, it isn't a weekend affair. It is our life.
And, I love it.
Ahhh, I love this. All of it. Most especially the pictures of your sweet Mama. Perfect explanation, Britt!
ReplyDelete~Tiffany
LOVE THIS. This is perfect! Thank you for letting us live vicariously through your blog!
ReplyDeleteAgree with both Tiffany and Rozy! LOVED this! I miss home. Kinda brought a tear to my eye. And I kinda chuckled at Colt---he doesn't look QUITE ready to carry on the tradition :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful photo journal! It really captures the ambience of your life. I wish more of us bloggers could put together something like this to give others a glimpse into the background of our lives. Of course not many are privileged to live and work with family in such a beautiful place. Thanks for sharing this - I really love to have a link to ranch life.
ReplyDeleteYour boys are going to love these memories when they're older!
ReplyDeleteI like this project much more as idea ( the notion of a porous box to wake up in mother nature is a dream) than
ReplyDeleteits actual physicality.
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Such a beautiful account of the life we love! Love you so much!
ReplyDeleteBaptism for cattle!
ReplyDeleteWow..what an amazing life you live. I"m a bit jealous..I've always wanted to live on a ranch. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you Amelia! We really are blessed and love life here. Maybe you can do it someday too!!!
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