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First Branding

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First Calves
Home Ranch
photo by Sharon O'Toole

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On the outside looking in
photo by Sharon O'Toole

We have a fine accumulation of calves, and they are getting bigger by the day. We had plans to press our Easter guests into service as a branding crew (this was news to most of them), but as I explained last week, a sheep shearing crew appeared unexpectedly and our guests were converted to corral help.

While this was good luck, this still left us with a bunch of growing calves who needed the whole branding routine. Yesterday dawned bright and clear, and we gathered up enough people to brand these young calves. Believe me, it is much easier than branding old calves!

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George at the gate
photo by Sharon O'Toole

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Siobhan and Lucky helping
photo by Sharon O'Toole

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Pat with hot irons
photo by Sharon O'Toole

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About Pat & Sharon O'Toole

Sharon O'Toole
Pat and Sharon O’Toole are ranchers in the Little Snake River Valley near Savery, Wyoming, right on the Colorado-Wyoming border. They raise cattle, sheep, horses, dogs and children. Pat “immigrated” from Florida in 1970. He attended Colorado State University, where he met Sharon when both worked for the campus newspaper. Sharon grew up on their ranch, where they live and work with her father, their daughter, son and granddaughter (soon to be grandchildren!). Pat is a “water buffalo” and has served in the Wyoming House of Representatives (1986-1992), on the President’s Western Water Policy Review Advisory Commission, and is the current President of the Family Farm Alliance, which advocates for farmers, ranchers and irrigators. Sharon is an author, poet and journalist. She writes extensively on Western issues and is a columnist for “The Shepherd” magazine. Pat and Sharon are the parents of three children: Meghan, 27; Bridget, 26; and Eamon, 20.
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