Cattle Ranches and Branding

Gathering the Herd

This is the time of year when cattle and sheep herds are collected from the mountains to be brought to fenced, lower-elevation areas for the winter.  Cedar City makes an official celebration of this event.  I often wonder how ranchers ever find all the animals they drove into the mountains, especially the cattle.  I have seen lone cows in some pretty interesting places.  Some are branded, some have ear tags (one or two).  When my grandpa raised cattle, I even got to ride a horse on an easy drive down a canyon.  I’m afraid the cows weren’t too worried about me.  I wasn’t very old and my cowboy tone and volume were difficult to hear over whatever the cattle were saying.  Anyone who thinks pushing big animals in a specific direction is an easy task should look for an opportunity to try it.

On November 18, at 10:00 a.m., Lyman Hafen will be the guest at the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers McQuarrie Memorial Museum’s 3rd Weekend Event, to talk about the history of cattle ranching and branding in Southern Utah.

Lyman Hafen is a sixth generation native of this area.  He grew up roaming the banks of the Virgin River and was a State High School Rodeo All-Around Champion.  He has written hundreds of magazine articles and published more than a dozen books, mostly on the culture and character of his beloved home region.

If you would like to attend this interesting presentation, the DUP McQuarrie Museum is located at 145 North 100 East in St. George.  It is free and handicap accessible. For additional information you can log on to http://dupstgeorge.org or call 435 628 7274.