Nellie the Kid and a New Little Miss

Today was Day 2 of our  2013 branding season, and our competent crew branded, castrated, tagged, and vaxed 213 calves.

You may remember "The Kid," who wrote two posts for me back in the winter. She's a lovely young lady who enjoys her work here on the ranch. Today, she was game for expanding her skills... and made the leap from tractor driving and ear-tagging to becoming a real cowgirl.

She's always considered the cowboy crew to have a somewhat cushy job, ambling through fields on horseback, meandering along quiet streams, chewing the fat in amiable comaraderie, only pausing now and then to check on a cow or calf.

The Kid has changed her tune. And her name. She's now Nellie the Kid. First of all, she helped gather the cattle this morning. With a little encouragement and several days of practising on the "dummy" in the barn, she was ready to cowgirl up.

Setting up a loop.

The first calf she roped slipped the loop and darted away before anyone had a chance to applaud.

Setting up a loop again.









Bucky, Nellie's horse, got a excited and did a little polka. Unfortunately, this calf had already been tagged and branded. Had to be released and Nellie went to try again.

After a few more loops, okay, after a LOT more loops, we had a fresh calf and one VERY happy cowgirl. She had a grin as wide as the Peace River!

I going to guess Nellie the Kid won't stand for staying on the farm crew now that she's gone and diversified. We're all proud as can be of her... and she's only going to get better. Better watch out, boys!

Today we welcomed another young lady to our branding... Sweet little Radeyah, at just THREE DAYS OLD, slept right through the bellowing and commotion. Could be she's another cowgirl in the making. Congratulations to Bree and Dale!