It’s one of those ranching rules that never goes out of style (unless of course, you are headed to the airport to catch a flight).
Ranchers are masters of “MacGyvering” almost anything. If we can’t put it back together with baling wire, twine or duct tape, and can’t put it back in place with a good whack with a light sledge, it might not be worth owning. Likewise, a good sharp pocket knife is really a multi purpose tool and protection in the right hands.
There are lots of unwritten but essential rules to follow out on a ranch, and watching new people for what tools they carry, clothes they wear, and how they handle basic situations, often tells you a whole lot about their actual practical skill set.
Each year at spring branding time, we gather with friends and neighbors to get the job done and enjoy each other’s company. Inevitably someone new shows up with mad self-professed riding, roping or ground crew skills. My daughter gets a little irritated when these “cowboys” insist on man handling calves rather than letting the ropers and horses do the heavy lifting by heading and heeling each calf and dragging them to the branding fire. I always remind her that she can always invite them back for fall branding when the calves no longer weigh eighty pounds and are in fact, several hundred pounds heavier. Fall branding is when you realize that no amount of brute strength can replace good roper and good technique when throwing a calf.
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I’ve always sometimes found that a well-placed kick to the peanuts from a big ol calf is just what a stubborn guy needs in order to start listening (to a girl).
Along the same lines, I’ve often been asked by friends and family why I always wear long sleeves to work. To them, it seems counterintuitive to cover up in hot weather. I gently explain that a long sleeve shirt keeps me from sunburn, and also keeps me from scratches and cutting myself (as often) on fences and “pokey” plants. They usually just shake their heads and keep buying me tank tops for summer.
The same goes for boots. Since Patrice does all our riding, she only owns pull on boots. Even though lace ups are super comfortable and provide more stability for the foot and ankle, they can be a death trap if you’re come off your horse and get caught up in a stirrup. You simply can’t just slip out of a lace up.
Ranching rules out here in the Great Basin usually come down to a couple things, practicality and tradition. Practicality usually carries the day unless it ruins the enjoyment in what you are doing.
When you ranch in the Great Basin for long enough; chances are good that you’ll lose money more years than you break even or make a few bucks, so getting enjoyment from what you do and how you do it becomes really important to quality of life. My father-in-law Les used to say if he had to brand calves through a chute, he’d know it was time to hang it up, because cow work would have become pure drudgery. I think I’ve always agreed with him.
It’s funny and sweet to hear my daughter explaining buckaroo etiquette to guys new to the area. It shows that she was watching and listening to her Pa and Daddy growing up.
Recently, Patrice had a crew helping her part out calves. A new guy who is a pretty good competitive cutter rode right in front of her and the rest of the crew. She let it happen once; then, when it happened a second time, she pulled him aside and explained that you never ride in front of someone and you certainly never take a turn parting until or unless the boss asks you to do it. Fortunately, the guy took the lesson on buckaroo etiquette in stride. Not sure what he thought when the work was done, supper was served and half the crew made fun of him stuffing his jeans in his boots. Everybody has to learn somewhere, but having to hear “you better be mighty handy to wear your jeans stuffed like that….wonder if Texas cowboys make fun of buckaroos the way our folks make fun of them?
Guess it all comes down to how handy you really are, and how sharp that pocket knife you’re carrying really is.
Kris Stewart is a rancher in Paradise Valley, Nevada.