James Pratt

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Branding Cattle at the Howard Ranch

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This is the second part of my story about an assignment for Oklahoma Today Magazine…

Once the cattle roundup was complete, it was time to start branding cattle.  Well, branding and ear tagging and vaccinating, and, shall we say, turning baby bulls into steers.

Since it was the middle of a hot summer, Justin’s cowboy and cowgirl school was on hiatus, since nobody wants to work cows in the middle of July.  But Justin was able to talk bribe some of his friends into coming out to help with the branding.  The first group of calves they worked in a chute, while the second group they worked the old fashioned way, by roping the calves and dragging them to the branding station.  The second option was a lot slower and more work, but to cowboys everywhere, a lot more fun!

Justin Howard (right) watches as his cowboy friends apply a branding iron to a calf.
Justin Howard (right) watches as his cowboy friends apply a branding iron to a calf.
The first set of calves were worked in a calf chute, while the second set of calves were worked the old-fashioned way, with a rope and horse.
The first set of calves were worked in a calf chute, while the second set of calves were worked the old-fashioned way, with a rope and horse.
The cowboys have a lot more fun working the old fashioned way - roping a calf and dragging it to the branding station.
The cowboys have a lot more fun working the old fashioned way – roping a calf and dragging it to the branding station.
As part of "working calves" the baby bulls were turned into baby steers. Some cowboys like to cook these up as "mountain oysters". Not this group.
As part of “working calves” the baby bulls were turned into baby steers. Some cowboys like to cook these up as “mountain oysters”. Not this group.
The secret to working cattle with a rope is that one of the cowboys has to be the guy to jump on the calf and hold him down.
The secret to working cattle with a rope is that one of the cowboys has to be the guy to jump on the calf and hold him down.
Justin Howard holding a calf down while his friend applies the branding iron.
Justin Howard holding a calf down while his friend applies the branding iron.
A few tools of the cowboy trade.
A few tools of the cowboy trade.
The "fun way" was to rope the calves by the back hooves and drag them to the branding station.
The “fun way” was to rope the calves by the back hooves and drag them to the branding station.
The Howard Ranch brand freshly etched into a six month old calf.
The Howard Ranch brand freshly etched into a six month old calf.
Justin Howard holds down a calf while his friend applies a hot branding iron.
Justin Howard holds down a calf while his friend applies a hot branding iron.

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About James Pratt

I am an Oklahoma based writer, commercial photographer, editorial photographer and adventurer based in Oklahoma City. I love telling stories about people. A motorcycle is my preferred means of travel, and I have over 5,000 hours piloting small airplanes. My editorial photography has been published in hundreds of magazines and my commercial photography has been used by dozens of companies worldwide.

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4x5 film 4x5x365 agriculture Amazon Web Services bicycle Bill Dragoo BMW Brass Ball Bobbers combine Darwin Motorcycles dirt bike drag racing Edmond El Reno film Fortinet Guthrie Ilford Delta 100 Ilford Delta Pro 100 Ilford HP5 Jeep John Deere Kawasaki Kay Pratt Kodak TMAX-100 Lexington Micha Young motorcycle New Mexico Nikon Norman Conquest Oklahoma Oklahoma City Oklahoma Living Oklahoma Living Magazine Oklahoma Today Ride Oklahoma South Canadian River Thunder Valley Raceway Tombo Racing Tommy Bolton Toyo 45A Toyo VX-125 wheat harvest Wrangler
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