Branded!

By now if you follow my blog or just read it from time to time, you know my boyfriend Chad--now Fiance Chad and I spend a lot of weekends on the farm. His parents operate a large cattle ranch in Eastern Colorado, Lincoln county, and that's the next one over to the East of us here in El Paso County.

This past weekend, my little seven year old girl helped her soon-to-be cousins with branding the Taylor calves. My friend responded to my Facebook page as "she'll be a well-rounded" girl. I believe she will. The actual branding skill will only come in handy should she decide to become a rancher but she learned more than that this weekend. You learn teamwork. One person takes the front of the animal, the second pulls the hind leg so no one gets kicked. There's a person stepping in to vaccinate, one stepping in to do the branding. The calf kicks like a three year old throwing a temper tantrum like you've never seen! It's hard to continue to hold such an obstinate beast. They want UP, and NOW! Anyway, I feel as though hard work and getting dirty is good for kids. At the end of it all, they realize they can do amazing things. They can deal with emotions and fears. And the love and support of family who are right there with them. It was bonding of sorts for Han and her "cousins". She finished up and took away a great deal from the experience. I'm proud of my little "cowgirl in training".

Once you've restrained an angry bovine beast, you're on your way to being ready for almost anything!




-Branding at the Taylor Ranch in Lincoln County. March 7th, 2010