Branding and BBQ = Exhausted but had fun.

Saturday we spent the majority of the day branding cows. It took about 4 hours to get all 42 done, which was more than I thought. We had a great crew of family and friends that made branding smooth.

Steve carrying the calf that had been born the previous night.

She was too little to keep up with the rest of the herd as we drove them in from the pasture.

Getting the process started.

(Ron Garner, Steve Avery, Eugene Davis, Chris and myself)

Steve applying the hot iron.
(Kelle watching the process.)

This calf was so small it ran right through the shoot.
Steve and Chris were able to tackle the calf and were able to do
everything right there on the ground.

Shauna (Steve's wife) gave all of the shots.
While Justin was in charge of catching the head of the calf.
Chris turned the shoot to lay like a table.
Gene and Kelle came up to help us.
Gene got kicked in the knee by a pretty big calf. Kelle de-wormed all the calves and cows.

Ron castrated the bull calves.

He is the de-nutter.

He was such a good sport about doing this job.

Supporting group

(Stephanie, Shalawna & Kolston, Maggie & Hayden)

We tagged the new calf and gave her her shots, but she got to skip the branding part.

She was just too small and too new.

But she was reunited with her momma soon after.

After we finished branding we invited all to stay and have the first annual branding barbecue. We had a great time and had great food.

Maggie grilled the hamburgers.

BT (Brandon Andrus) cooked the bacon.

He jumped right in, he could see how exhausted we were from branding

and standing outside in the sun all day.

Mekelle and Harley just relaxing after a hard days work.

Val and Ellie Kay eating the scrumptious delicious food.

Thanks Val for bringing the salads. We loved having you guys.

Shalawna and Kolston

Chris enjoying his burger after a hard days work.

John joined us for some lunch.

Justin showing Johnnie how to aim a BB gun.

Part of the gang shooting the breeze.

(Shalawna, Tracie, Brooklyn, Maggie and Chris)

Following lunch we played a mean game of badminton.

Val and BT

BT and Justin playing against Chris and Ron

(BT hit the birdie and the birdie hit Chris in the forehead, he got a pretty good welt.

It made us all laugh when we realized he was completely fine.)

Me and Hayden

Maggie getting ready to hit the birdie.

Justin and Shalawna playing.

Chris and Johnnie eating licorice.

Kolston, Justin and Hayden enjoying the nice cool grass.

Elizabeth looking such a cutie.

Kolston and his daddy.

Maggie and Ron

Two little love birds.

Hayden loves licorice.

Elizabeth

Chris taking Johnnie on a little ride.

Hayden playing with stick, he is such a boy.

We had a very successful day full of work, play, family and friends. I can't think of a better way to spend a beautiful Saturday.