From the Lens: Scenes from Spring Branding

Join Western Horseman editor Kristen Schurr behind the lens for the first branding of the year.

Located 25 miles from the nearest paved highway, the Laughery family is the first to brand calves in our area. The Laughery family ranch is owned and operated by Carl and Camille, in addition to their three children who are actively involved in the day-to-day operations. At 73 years old, Butch Reynolds helps run an iron to brand calves. While taking a break, a few horses are relaxed while freshly worked calves huddle in the corner. Most of our brandings are “heel and drag.” A roper rides in the pen, heels a calf and drags it out. Wrestlers will take the rope off and hold the calf in order to be worked. Horses lined up after the gather and ready to drag calves once the cowboss asks. Branding irons staying hot while resting in the branding pot. Seth Sedgwick sets a trap waiting for the calf to step forward. My horse, “Yeller” on the left and “Ward” on the right. It’s always a good day when you help the neighbors. I was asked to administer vaccine in the first and third groups and also got to rope in the second bunch.

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