Visitors gathered around the branding grounds Wednesday as a group of cowhands atop their trusty horses herded calves into a corral.
For the Grant-Kohrs Ranch, branding is about more than proof of ownership. It’s about preserving traditions of the American West.
Tseyang Pewa brands a calf as Marc Mitchell keeps the calf held down at Grant-Kohrs Ranch in Deer Lodge on July 8.
MEGAN NIELSEN, Montana Standard
The Grant-Kohrs Ranch was once the headquarters of a 10-million-acre cattle empire. Today, the National Park Service operates the site as a working ranch.
“It's a great opportunity to show heritage skills,” said Julie Croglio, chief of interpretation at the ranch.
Getting the calves in the corral was only the first challenge for the group of cowhands and park rangers. From there, ropers heeled calves from the bunch and dragged them to a nordfork, a device used to immobilize the calves for branding.
A group stood ready to wrestle each calf if anything went amiss.
Makenzie Novak catches a calf in a nordfork during a cattle branding at Grant-Kohrs Ranch in Deer Lodge on July 8.
MEGAN NIELSEN, Montana Standard
Once secured, a hot branding iron was brought over and placed on the calf’s upper back.
Livestock brands were first recorded in Montana in 1873. Passed down through generations, ranches have developed unique brands as symbols of pride and heritage.
The Grant-Kohrs Ranch still maintains the registration of the original branding symbol, a CK for the cattleman Conrad Kohrs. Since the park opened to the public in 1977, the ranch has used its own brand, a lazy G and hanging K.
The Grant-Kohrs Ranch herd is comprised of shorthorn, Texas longhorn and Hereford cattle.
Photos: Preserving traditions of American West, Grant-Kohrs Ranch brands its calves
Tseyang Pewa brands a calf as Marc Mitchell keeps the calf held down at Grant-Kohrs Ranch in Deer Lodge on July 8.
MEGAN NIELSEN, Montana Standard
Brandy Davis herds cattle for branding at Grant-Kohrs Ranch in Deer Lodge on July 8.
MEGAN NIELSEN, Montana Standard
Makenzie Novak catches a calf in a nordfork during a cattle branding at Grant-Kohrs Ranch in Deer Lodge on July 8.
MEGAN NIELSEN, Montana Standard
Josie Steinbach watches as cowhands herd cattle into a corral for branding at Grant-Kohrs Ranch in Deer Lodge on July 8.
MEGAN NIELSEN, Montana Standard
The branding symbol on a calf after branding at Grant-Kohrs Ranch in Deer Lodge on July 8.
MEGAN NIELSEN, Montana Standard
From left, Shane Novak, Marc Mitchell and Dave Clapier hold down a calf so it can be branded at Grant-Kohrs Ranch in Deer Lodge on July 8.
MEGAN NIELSEN, Montana Standard
Joe Cullitan watches during a cattle branding at Grant-Kohrs Ranch in Deer Lodge on July 8.
MEGAN NIELSEN, Montana Standard
Visitors watch as Missy Merrill and other cowhands separate mother cows from their calves for branding at Grant-Kohrs Ranch in Deer Lodge on July 8.
MEGAN NIELSEN, Montana Standard
Makenzie Novak catches a calf in a nordfork during a cattle branding at Grant-Kohrs Ranch in Deer Lodge on July 8.
MEGAN NIELSEN, Montana Standard
Megan Nielsen is a photographer for the Montana Standard newspaper.
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PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
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Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
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