Day 6 – Saturday June 2

[SD] Branding Cattle 2007-06-02

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Today we went to Vern Hovland’s ranch and helped him with branding. He had 200 head of cattle, and the caves had not been branded, ear tagged, casterated or vaccinated. We trailered the horses up to a cannon and then road them up to his place. We pushed the cows as we went.

There were around 20 people who helped. We sorted the caves from the cows and then pushed them into a roping pen. The ropers would heel the caves, drag them to the open area, where a grounds crews would throw the calf, brand, vaccinate, ear tag and castrate the bulls.

I put ear tags in the heifers. It was a fun day. Everyone had a good time. We ate
Lunch then worked the cows. They needed fly dip and vaccinations. It was one of the last brandings of the season. It was kind of a ranching party. I had a great time.

Day 5 – Friday June 1

The day began, first with me feeling better. Then around 5:30 am Philip came and said that the horse I had been riding, Dandy, had colic. It’s being constipated. 90% of horses that die, die of colic. They loaded him up and headed for a vet. We got things around and had breakfast. John came back from the vet and he said, the best thing for him was to be ridden. So I saddled him up and we gathered the cattle and headed down the road. It was not raining today, but the wind was blowing strong and cold. We kept them moving all morning. We arrived at the pasture around noon. We separated off a few pair and then moved the rest of them to the pasture area, which took another hour and half. They seemed to know where to go. John met us near the area and trailered the horses back to the camper. They will leave the camper, all summer, as they check the cattle and move them from pasture to pasture. We ate lunch and then headed home. It look over an hour of driving to get home. Once home we took care of the horses and unpacked. It was good to just rest and not be moving. I’m looking forward to a warm shower and soft bed tonight.

Day 4 – Thursday May 31

[SD] Cattle Drive (Day 2 and 3) 2007-06-01

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Today we began early 4 am. It will be a long day of driving the cattle. We will stay over night in the woods with the cattle and finish the drive on Friday (Day five).
The day began around 4:30 am. We were packed and ready to go by 6 am. Before we even left the ranch, it began to rain. They need the rain, but it will make the day long and cold. We gathered the cattle just fine. They moved steady in the rain. The cold that made us shiver, made the trip easier for the cattle. We stopped around 10am for a snack, and something to warm us up. We continued the drive and stopped again around 1:30 pm for lunch. We coraled them at a neighbors, Wendell Crawfords. They brought the camper along for us to stay out of the weather and warm up. We arrived at the designated stopping place around 7 pm. I was not feeling well, when we arrived. My stomach was very upset. I had to use a neighbors out-house, several times. I took some medicine and by morning I was feeling better. It was just nice to be warm once again. The cold wind and rain made for along day.

Day 3 – Wednesday May 30

[SD] Fixing Fences 2007-05-30

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Today I got up early and went for a 4 mile run. The cows just stared at me as I ran by them. I don’t think they had ever seen a person running down the road. They just shook their heads and stared. Then we loaded up the 4 wheeler and went up to the Black Hills forest area. It was about a twenty mile ride.
We first built a electric fence in a area that will hold the cattle tomorrow evening before we get them up to the allotment. We finished this project by 10:30 am.

I then drove a 4 wheeler 5 miles down the road to the area where we will water the cows before we reach the final destination. We ate lunch here.

Then we checked the fence around the National Forest area. We road the 4 wheelers by about 10 miles of fence. There is over 30 miles of fence to check. It was fun riding the 4 wheelers up and down the hills. The weather was cold and rainy. A cloud would pass over and it would rain. Then we would dry out and then it would rain again. We finished up and headed home by 4:30-5 pm. While in the timber we saw 2 elk, numerous deer, and antelope.

One the way home we stopped by this area that has tepee rings. There were hundreds of them. The Native Americans used this area in the winter to camp, and make arrow heads.

Then we saw jump off canyon and red creek canyon-where we hiked up and saw a cave. The day ended with supper around 7 pm. Philip and his family came over around 7:30 pm. They came to spend the night, so we can start the cattle drive early–around 4 am on Thursday.

Breakfast was oatmeal
Lunch was baloney sandwiches, cookies, carrots, apple.
Supper was hamburgers, sweet corn, potato salad, Cold slaw and rhubarb crisp for dessert.

Day 2 – Tuesday May 29

[SD] Cattle Drive Day 1 2007-05-29

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Today we moved 100 head of cattle and caves about 5 miles up the road. It was good to be in the saddle again. The land is just beautiful. The Curchival place is where the cattle ended up. It’s names after a family that once ranched this piece of land. We’ll continue the drive on Thursday. Tomorrow we fix the fence in the holding pasture up in the National Forest.
We loaded up the 4 wheeler and prepared for fixing fence tomorrow.
Breakfast was bacon and eggs.
Lunch was steak, potatoes, gravy, beans, rhubarb crisp.
Supper-noodles with gravy. Fried potatoes, Banana cream pie

The First Step

Sometimes the first steps can be the hardest, and this will be no different. I’ll be traveling on Monday, May 28 to Edgemont, South Dakota. Here I will be seeing friends from when I was in high school. The Holme’s own a ranch and I will be riding horses, chasing cows, fixing fence and checking on water. On Tuesday, May 29th, we begin a three day cattle drive. They take their cows and caves up to the federal land for the summer. I hope it will be as fun as I remember. In any event, I’ll be on a horse and out in big sky country. Yee Haw!

This is a family picture …

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