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Branding, Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Soapweed

Well-known member
Trailingcattleacrossameadow.jpg

Trailing cattle across a meadow
Pauseforrefreshments.jpg

Pause for refreshments
Alittlegreenstartingtoshow.jpg

A little green starting to show
Wateronthemeadowisagoodsign.jpg

Water on the meadow is a good sign.
Brandinglaterinthemorning.jpg

Branding later in the morning
Girlsmakeagreatcrew.jpg

Girls make a great crew.
AslongasBradykeepsdragginginthecalv.jpg

As long as Brady keeps dragging in the calves.
Twoheelsandcominin.jpg

Two heels and comin' in.
Lockandload.jpg

Lock and load
Companycametowatchusinaction.jpg

Company came to visit us.
Theyhadringsideseatstowatchtheactio.jpg

They had ringside seats to watch the action.
RuthandJohnBurton.jpg

Ruth and John Burton. John has been one of my heroes ever since I was a little kid. He will turn 86 years old on the 11th of May. When John was a young man 24 years of age, he rode horseback and led a packhorse from Ellsworth, Nebraska to the Grand Canyon in Arizona. When he was near Granby, Colorado one of his horses came up lame. As the dude ranch summer season was just starting, John got a job as a wrangler on the Devil's Thumb Guest Ranch near Fraser, Colorado. After Labor Day, when the guests had left the ranch and John's horse had healed, he started riding again towards the Grand Canyon. He camped at the North Rim on a November night in 1947, and the next day he rode down to the bottom. He had dinner at the Phantom Ranch and rode up to the South Rim that afternoon. The next day he sold his horses, packed his saddle in a gunny sack, and boarded a train back to Nebraska. On November 8th of 1997, Peach and I, and our three kids rode mules to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. We coerced John into riding a mule with us. This was fifty years later to the day from when he rode his own horses across. In 1997, we spent the night at the Phantom Ranch and rode out the next day. It was a fun trip which was made even more special because John was with us.

John worked on some of the big cattle ranches in Utah and Nevada where they used chuckwagons and camped out for several weeks each spring and fall. I would just about bet that John had the first pair of chinks that were seen in Nebraska. He put up hay and fed it out with horses, which always inspired me. Through the years, I have been in on several cattle drives and other adventures with John. John's first wife, Ardith, died in the fall of 1995. He later married Ruth, who is from Arizona. John and Ruth are great people, and I am proud to have them for friends.
 

Big Muddy rancher

Well-known member
That sounds like quite the adventure. :D

Looks like you had a nice day for branding.

We're getting yearling processed for grass. Long day today, tomorrow and the next. :( :)
 

leanin' H

Well-known member
Great pictures and that history is priceless! The folks in Mr. Burton's generation really lived life and usually had many grand adventures! What a neat man he is! How's the branding comin'? Hope your green grass keeps getting greener and taller. Our's has just taken off this week thanks to last week's rain and this weeks sun! :D
 

the_jersey_lilly_2000

Well-known member
Great Pictures once again Soapweed. It amazes me what you all get accomplished with so few people.

And the story of Mr John. Great stories, and wonderful memories for all involved.

I was sure when I seen the date of the branding that you'd be puttin a sombrero brand in celeberation of Cinco De Mayo!! :p :wink:
 

High Plains

Well-known member
I like the Spearhead brand. It tells which way the herd is moving. Just in case the head and tail positioning isn't a good enough indicator. :wink: If the brand would glow in the dark, then you'd really be onto something.

Looks like you had good company to cheer on your branding efforts.

HP
 
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