Yearling Roundup

March 21 & 22 rounded up cattle on Knolls and Cierro Hueco to locate 12 yearling calves and wean them from their pregnant mothers. Only able to find 8. 5 were already branded,so only had to brand 3. They'll be weaned over next few days and then put in bull pasture. Cleaned out manger area and horse stalls. Removed the float valve at Jenny's mill to purchase another and Tom Baker family will install that over the next month. At the roundup was Dad (Guy), Ginny, Alisha, Christopher, Ashlee, Cody, Ryan, Tracy, Deanna & Steve. Horses rode: Barkley, Cinco, Chit-tah, Guapo and Winston. Rojo looking older and skinny so we didn't ride. Also didn't ride Pepper and Buddy. Colt is looking good.
Also want to make everyone aware that Christopher took two months off from his job, is living with my dad & mom and working at the ranch. If you didn't know, he worked the last 6 months at Babbitt Ranch (largest ranch in Arizona) near Flagstaff and Grand Canyon. For a perspective, last fall they branded 3400 calves compared to our 80. And they do it all on horseback and roping them rather than using a squeeze. He learned how to shoe horses and was able to shoe all of the horses for a savings of 400-600 dollars. We also roped the 3 calves that we branded and did it on the ground- first time I've ever done that and we had a good time. He roped off of Guapo and the horse did real well. He and dad are working every day on fencing and so we'll see on May 3rd, our first ranch work weekend, what work we will still have to do. It is comforting to me that there is someone out at the ranch with my 82 year-old father in case something happens.