The Dust, the Dirt, and the Tradition: Branding 2026

Branding is a season we look forward to every year with the kind of anticipation most people save for Christmas morning. It’s the culmination of our hard work and the heartbeat of our operation. When the day finally arrives, we gather our community—friends, neighbors, and the family members we actually like—saddle up the horses, and get down to business.

There is a specific rhythm to a branding day that you can't find anywhere else. You hear it in the steady beller of the cattle and the thud of hooves against the Nevada soil. Before long, the air is thick with flying dirt and the smell of sagebrush. Everyone involved gets a little "ranch-decorated"—covered in a layer of dust, a bit of sweat, and the inevitable splash of cow poop. It’s honest work, and it’s messy, but nobody minds.

The physical toll is real, but the reward is better. By the time the last calf is worked, we’re all sore and exhausted, likely still picking dirt out of our teeth. But as we gather around the table to share a massive meal together, the fatigue turns into a deep sense of accomplishment. We trade laughs, tell stories from the day's wrecks, and celebrate the bond that keeps this fifth-generation ranch moving forward.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of a job well done alongside the people you trust most.