John Finegan saw Hank and immediately gave him a job. He handed him the branding iron and put him to work. When the first calf was pulled into the holding area, John took Hank next to the calf and with a wire brush, showed him how to comb down the hair on the left side of the rump. Then holding the electric brand in your right hand, you push the hot iron onto the rump and hold it there while the calf's hair is burned and the symbol is etched into the hide. John told Hank to hold the hot iron there for about 20 seconds and then remove the iron. Not bad for his first time, see the picture ! Branding is only on of the things that is going on for the calf. He is given three shots (2 vaccines and vitamins), an identification tag is hooked onto the ear and IF it is a bull calf, it is castrated!! I did not include a picture of the cutting the @#X'% off of the bull - gross! All the young boys get a queer look on their face when first asked to castrate. There are lots of activities during the branding.
The cowboys or cowgirls enter the holding pen on horseback.
With a practiced skill, they lasso the calf, hopefully on the back legs. The rider then secures the rope to the saddle horn and using the horses muscles, pull the screaming calf to the holding area. The ranch uses a tool called a Northfork to steady the calf and prevent him from wrestling around and getting hurt.
As the calf is moved from the herd to the branding arena, the Northfork is placed around its neck. The cowboy keeps the rope tight and the crew descends upon the calf, one brander, three vaccinators. 
Once this process is finished, the calf is pulled outside the arena and turned loose to an open pasture where momma is waiting.So far, about 780 calves have been branded. On this ranch there about 600 more calves to process which will probably occur over about three weekends. My next story will be about the folks at the branding, I'm looking forward to introducing some of our friends to you!
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