BRANDING AT THE DUTTON RANCH NEAR SAND SPRINGS, MONTANA

I am home in Garfield County Montana and just in time for a branding. This is late for branding, but Dave said situations in June just didn't allow him to brand that month, so here we are a couple of months later, and the calves are big.

The cows and calves are pushed into the corral and then cowboys and cowgirls sort the cows from the calves before the branding actually begins.

The best part of ranching is that it is a kid friendly business. Ranch kids are smart and resourceful. 

Reed and Malcom

This is my brother, Bill Dutton, on Ace.

Blair is four and rides really well. Here she is trying to get her hobbles off the saddle. Her dad came along and helped her hobble her horse. 

The horses are hobbled during the break so they can be unbridled and eat but not stray too far.

Dave and Bill are cousins.

Parker Liske playing with his baby during the break. Travis Brown and Tyler Noyes in the background.

Kori MacMillan, Dean Dutton and Dave Dutton

Getting ready to rope.  Noah Miller, Cowboy, Clint Potts and Tyler Noyes.

Heating the irons with propane.

Tyler Noyes

Bill Dutton holding one.

Putting the six on the lazy diamond (left side).

DaLauna Potts gives every calf a dose of ivermectin-type med which will kill flies and parasites.

Tyler Noyes, Kori MacMillan, Noah Miller roping, Dean Dutton and Dave Dutton branding.

All the bulls are castrated.

It takes all hands on deck to wrestle these big calves. Noah Miller, Parker Liske, Clint Potts, and Kyle Thompson.

Dave is ready to throw a loop on a calf.

Emma Liske and Kahlan waiting for a calf to vaccinate.

Parker Liske with a loop on a calf.

Kyle Thompson tailing; Dean Dutton pulling the rope, Clint Potts in the background.

Dave Dutton ear marking, Cowboy branding, Kori MacMillan vaccinating.

Kori MacMillan roping and Travis Brown.

Noah Miller, Tyler Noyes, Clint Potts and lots of dust.

Dean Dutton

Tyler Noyes, Travis Brown and Clint Potts

Clint Potts

Kyle Thompson roping.

Blair is ready with the medicine for castration and Ben is branding.

Lazy diamond six 

Rocky Mountain oysters.

Dean and Dave Dutton

This is just one day of branding with more days of work ahead. The crew loaded portable panels, the fire pot and brands and we all headed for the house for a delicious dinner Nancy had waiting.