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Postcard from Echo Roy Klaproth's |
6/10/04 from Christina Barr
 9 Mile Ranch
Converse County, Wyoming
Yesterday, after leaving Georgie Sicking's place in Kaycee, Wyoming, I
headed cross-country to Echo Roy Klaproth's family ranch south of
Wright. More and more dirt roads through rolling grassland dotted with
sage and herds of antelope that run so smoothly they look like they are
floating. A buck followed my car for a while, pacing itself with me as
I drove. It's clear that this is a low water spring. The grass is short
and golden, sparse. Everyone I've met is concerned about this. The
running joke about my trip has been that I bring rain with me wherever
I go, and so far I have. Today I see clouds building on the horizon,
and I hope that this joke proves true.
 Echo's family is amazing. They are so supportive of each
other, so welcoming and friendly. They hug each other constantly. Say
good things. They have been kind and curious about me, taking my
recording equipment in stride, laughing when I photograph them or
threaten to interview them.
We weren't able to ride yesterday to gather cow/calf pairs for branding
(they were short on horses that a novice like me could ride), so Echo
and I drove out around the ranch in Echo's truck while I interviewed
her. Our interview was a wonderful combination of vast vistas and
intimate revelations.
 We were up at 4:30 AM to prepare for branding, and this after
Echo and I stayed up most of the night talking and laughing. I doubt we
had even two hours of sleep. We camped out on Tiffany's living room
couch and floor - Tiffany is Echo's niece. It's a full house and we had
a slumber party. This ranch exists in a time warp of kindness. The kids
in their early 20's are being trained by the generation before to
manage the ranch. The kids make decisions and have the authority to set
branding times, manage vaccinations, work out the schedules. All of
this is done with gentle direction and a lot of humor.
Branding went smoothly - at one point I counted 30 people working in
the corral. These were friends, family, and neighbors who drove out to
the ranch from all over to help get the job done. I also offered to
help and they put me to work. I helped vaccinate the first group of
calves, and then took photographs while the second group was being
branded.
Shirley, our Chef for Branding Day, created a series of meals fit for
royalty. I'm all awash in homemade rolls and cinnamon rolls with icing,
maple butter, baked beans Dutch oven cooked and made from scratch,
mashed potatoes and gravy, potato salad, baked beef, lamb, ham, corn,
German chocolate cake, carrot cake, two kinds of pies- And that was
just lunch.
Now it's back to Casper for the night, and then I turn West for home.
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