Neighbors Friends & Cowpokes

Branding: Hard work, followed by a party, usually providing food, drink, etc., for the purpose of assisting a neighbor. It’s the same definition for an old fashioned barn raising.  Hard work distributed amongst many hands, makes for a smooth efficient Memorial Day weekend project…every single year.

Branding cattle is a loud, dirty, dusty, nasty, exhausting, dangerous but necessary chore.  From round up and separation to calf and cow reunion, its quite a spectacle. The level of planning, supplies, manpower, food and beer it takes to brand, doctor, inoculate and castrate (becoming a steer ya know) nearly 400 calves in a weekend is impressive.

But even more impressive is the line of trucks and trailers from a small Wyoming community headed up a rutted dirt road to lend a hand.  Without those 50 or 60 folks that do everything from riding, roping and wrangling to cooking and barkeeping, it doesn’t happen.  Put the word out and they will come, thank God for family and friends.

If you ever want to see good neighbors and cowboy culture in action, attend a branding!  Better yet, put on your boots, a long sleeve shirt, work gloves, your old cowboy hat (or ball cap), the jeans you don’t mind getting cow dung on and lend a hand!  The ranch folk will find a chore for you.

Then it’s party time…and these folks know how to celebrate a job well done! The first beer is cracked in the coral after the last calf is set loose to momma cow.  The food is always terrific (main course is beef, duh), conversation, libations and laughter…wouldn’t miss it for the world. Hats off to neighbors, friends and cowpokes!