Branding 2020 Review

Looking back at Branding 2020 with the Arrowquip system, live stream highlights, behind the scenes footage and more.
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[@slawrence5693]

I truly appreciate y’all so much! What a blessing that folks were there to help you! I am just so very sorry for your little calf passing. Thank you Mike and Erin. Grateful for your time because time is precious. Enjoy all your moments because someday they will be your memories.

[@markhoffman5719]

McKenzie is going to be running that ranch someday.

[@laragreene8328]

Nobody knows the future! It could be Lincoln that runs it 👍😊

[@sebw1964]

Awesome view of the Arrowquip system ...it’s amazing looking down from drone view. Loved watching you all on Saturday.

[@brandeissports3436]

I enjoy taking your families journey with you. Being a daughter of a dairy farmer in south central Kansas their are similarities as well as differences. It’s still educational for me as well as bringing happy memories from my childhood. Thank you for sharing-.

[@susanchamblee2549]

Wow what a great video Mike!! I watched some of the live feed but seeing it in this condensed form was wonderful...!! I’m so sorry you lost one but your wonderful care of your animals always shines thru!! Thanks for taking me along!!

[@alisonlightner866]

Sorry to hear about the loss of that calf, she was a beauty. Thank you Mike and Erin and Kinsey, you all did an awesome job.

[@timperry2648]

Loved the video! Love your willingness to let us in on branding day. I love your humbleness, transparency, and teachable spirit. God Bless!

[@stevecameron5371]

Thank you for continually sharing your lives with us. You're an inspiration to us all. I said in December that 2020 would be an exciting year, and clearly you did not disappoint.

[@waynegilchrist1596]

Thanks Mike for the recap, it made a clearer picture of yesterday's activities. I enjoyed both. As I am sure plenty people probably acknowledged condolences for the loss of the one calf and I do too. There's nothing pleasant about losing an animal especially when you have put in all the hard work and sacrifices but you can rest easier when you know you've done your best. You and your family are a great example for us all and the way you deal with the snags that nature gives you really proves the cliche, "when the going gets tough; the tough get going"! Thanks for sharing "Our Wyoming Life"!

[@fuzzb4419]

I have arrowquip equipment too...... Its the BEST a man can get!!! Saskatchewan 🇨🇦

[@rshoemaker7368]

Loved watching the branding live. It was so interesting and your team did a great job. Sad about the calf but she probably would have died in the pasture somewhere. At least she past quietly. Thank you Mike & Erin

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you Russell!

[@wykeishacraft6820]

Mike and Erin thanks for sharing Our Wyoming Life. See you all on next video. I 💘 your 👪, animals and Channel. God Blessed You

[@debcarpenter8519]

Another great day on the ranch, under those big, blue Wyoming skies. Thanks Mike and Erin!

[@BillTheTractorMan]

Great video Mike! I know I have been under the radar a lot lately, life has had me in strange places. I'm glad branding went well, except for your loss of that young heifer. You and Erin did your best, that is what counts in the end. I'm learning that, in part from you and your methods, and working with rescue horses. Not all lives can be saved, but if you have some control, atleast make that life as comfortable and happy as possible at the end. Thank you Mike, Erin, and everyone else. You are not just entertainment.

[@patshhi4620]

Thanks Erin, for explaining about the brand location. I didn’t know that.

[@raynonabohrer5624]

I didn't know this either.

[@masonstump1579]

Its covered by branding laws. Only a brand is legal ownership. Every brand has its own shape loavation and registry number.

[@RckyMtneer]

Not all states are the same. While ranchers here in Colorado tend to brand in the same spot for all animals, the State does not register your brand to a specific location here.

[@BrianReichenberg]

You and Erin are god sent to this earth I love your kind hearts thank you for everything you do

[@okoman9568]

Thanks for the review. Congratulations on your transparency which will only bring a better understanding of our food sources.

[@pnwRC.]

Great video! I watched as much of the live feed as I could.

[@tiffkais2574]

Awsome job Mike. And ur wife did an awsome job about location of brand. Cattle rustling is real. Last year we we lost a couple of calves before we got a chance to brand em. The cattle were along the Hwy and I lost one of my perbreed shorthorn bulls. Which I already had sold to future owner. It sucked I had to tell them we lost him. Sorry you guys are getting some negative comments on animal cruality. They just don't understand our way of life. I'm a wife to a 4th generation rancher. And I grew up as a country kid. This way of life is what I love.

[@teraexafusion745]

Sorry for your loss,-thank you for the live-video about the branding!!! Great job!!! Fantastic!!!

[@juliehenry6421]

Nice shirt - FFA proud - Thanks for letting us go along - great crew - Kudos to them

[@niveusnimbus]

Thank you for sharing! The live stream was great. Really interesting.

[@willardelsasser5310]

I so enjoyed the live branding show. We can all be thankful for your moderators keeping the trolls away. You have a very good operation and I'm thankful to be part of it.

[@alwaysinblue]

Awesome job you guys. It's great to see Mckenzie right in there learning how to do a good job caring for the calves.

[@lorrieruff4402]

Learned a lot today, did not know about the location of a brand is that important. That sometimes new equipment is not always the best fit for all cattle. Little cows can get sick very quickly. So sorry about the lost of her. Always hard to see something that young go. Was fun to see how your guess stepped up and help you out with this day. That your little girl was ready to help where needed. Till your next one, Stay Safe, Stay Healthy

[@letzrockitrite8469]

It was great to be able to come along with you through this process... thanks !

[@reynazimmerman1266]

Those are some wonderful "volun-steers"! Lol! The bottle calves are looking great. So cute!

[@9856CB]

Great job Erin, Kenzie and you too, Mike🤪. “Jack of all Trades” is a saying that couldn’t be more true. I worked for a man back in the 70s who use to say, “if you don’t know how to do something, someone has probably written a book on how to”. And in today’s world we have KZbin videos. I’ve saved so much money and gained so much experience in do-it-yourself jobs over the years (mistakes included). Plus, you build pride (the good kind) that’s passed on to your children. You made the right choice, but you don’t need me to say so.....God Bless

[@Rundown74]

Love what you are doing, keep it going, Thanks, Fred

[@childofthefox]

All people really need to do the hard work of where the food comes from. Thank you for sharing all the reals of life.

[@sillygingerkid1161]

Thankyou for the recap. Never had the time to watch the live stream. Looking forward to what you and Arrowquip can design together because they have the tools and know how and you have the first hand experience of the problems you ran into. Sorry to hear about the calf that passed away. Life can be tough at times but one must take the bad while looking forward to the good times.

[@lewthrasher4194]

I'm so glad I found you guys or you found me. I'm enjoying very much watching your videos. Life has become very boring since my stroke and I'm visually impaired so I've lost my job and driving license.

[@ethanwalters871]

Way to go @Matt Fencl !! I'm sure just a few years ago you didn't think you would be able to be up close with a ton of cattle and now you are branding them like you've done it your whole life! Way to go my friend! Great video Mike and Erin! Didn't get to catch most of the live stream but it's good to see the wrap up and hear it was mostly a success. To bad about the one calf but at least she went peacefully!

[@ernestdougherty3162]

Just like last year I love watching the livestream of branding the calves great video I love watching Mackenzie get to do it reminded me of when I was about her age and first help my dad on the ranch doing everything that you just did on Saturday thanks for the Memories and Mackenzie just might retire you already Mike

[@lindajarrett5078]

Mckenzie did a great job with the calves. Matt Fencl and his family did a great job also and I enjoyed watching them. Im so sorry to hear of the calf passing away, but that is part of life. Thank you for sharing the branding 2020. I watched the entire time!

[@marknasatka1891]

Friends, family, neighbors. Face it, you're blessed. You, your family, you're all blessed. I so admire your lifestyle. Hopefully I'll be living that dream soon. Looking forward to any incite you can offer. Thanks for the video.

[@xtctrader1467]

Sorry for the loss of the calf.

[@ikikatabudoacademy-okinawa1688]

Hi Mike Thank you for sharing your video on Branding. I found it very informative and knowledgeable and I learnt something about farming and the history behind Branding. The One thing I notice most was everyone Was Family and that to me is a community In action Worth its weight in Gold Best wishes Michael

[@wykeishacraft6820]

I enjoyed the Branding 2020. Seeing others coming out to help you and your family out. The kids had me smiling , i was happy to see them. They learning from a young age on experience with ranching and they will know more the older they get. 😄😄

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much!

[@pumptruckjim]

Excellent recap video. I learned a lot. I hope arrow quip can make the changes you need. I guess that's why they do real world tests like this. I hope you and the family can get a day or two rest. You earned it.

[@Emg2463]

lol....just makes sense that banding would be easier while the calf is standing....gravity. Mike, thanks for sharing the day with us ! I found it all very interesting and look forward to whatever next annual chore is coming up. I particularly look forward to seeing how the Aeroquip works when it's time to herd em up and ship em out ! Thanks again !

[@inglis7086]

talk to Arrow-quip about shifting the brace that is in the road for branding and putting in three gates/doors to access that area - customizing it specifically for you or tweaking it for everyone as you won't be the only one with that problem

[@JohnDoe-jq5wy]

YOU ARE WELCOME.....PROUD OF Y'ALL

[@xtctrader1467]

Hopefully ArrowQuip will be able to modify the shoot to accommodate the branding issue, since I'm sure you're not the only one that uses a Rib brand. That's one of the reasons they have you use the equipment, so they can learn and improve the system.

[@andrewj9831]

It's not the manufacturers issue, it's the ranchers. Looks like if the cattle was bigger or even smaller, it would work. The chute is made for all sizes...from full size bull to an cafe.

[@xtctrader1467]

@@andrewj9831 Maybe Mike could try one of the bulls to see how it would work. HAHA!

[@henry7765]

I wonder how much the whole thing cost?

[@alwaysdream7642]

Its a multipurpose corral system.... It wont be prefect for every job.

[@henry7765]

Always Dream how much is it ?

[@slrein42]

Great job running through the arrow quip! Enjoyed seeing Kenzie get in on the action 😁

[@Marshall_Weber]

Awesome Video Mike!!!

[@sandracorless6186]

Hey Mike, I'm sorry for your lost on the calf everything was just too much for her. I learned alot about branding, banding, and everything else thats gos on a cattle ranch by watching the live streaming on Saturday. All I can say you are one hell of a man Mike you asked for help and they came and thats because you are a good person inside and out. Your a stand up guy no bullcrap 🐂 lol what you see is what you get. I'm sure ArrowQuip was happy on how things turned out because this was the true test. I hope they were easy with Faith she's your first born😉 So whats next for OWL keep up the good work and see you in the next video🤔🐂🤠👏😉

[@steveclement504]

Great round up video roundup.

[@kendaum102]

Thank you for letting us join in on branding day on OUR WYOMING LIFE.

[@tcrasey]

I'm willing to bet Arrow-quip will figure that out before next time! I enjoyed watching your hard work, wishing i had a hand in it! Being a rancher is a lot harder and more involved than most people would believe. Your background in radio helps you to explain and express your message, keep up the good work!

[@rnull2237]

Awesome video, loved Watching the live stream too, sorry about the one who didn't make it, was sad. Have a great Monday. Oh and happy Father's Day Mike.

[@fuzzylop9164]

So sorry for the loss of the calf. 💔 Very interesting watching the process. I am sure aeoquip will salve that branding issue. Thank you for bringing us along.

[@bigcliffadventures]

Thanks yall so much Godbless

[@randeeholton]

That was my dream back in July high was to become a rancher. Things changed and I ended up volunteering for the red cross for 29 yrs. Going from many states to help the clients get back on their feet. I was also at 9/11 and spent a lot time in DC working there. I also worked with service members getting messages top them from family. It was my way of serving my country as my disability wouldn't let join the Army. I love watching your video and makes me want to be there helping out. But I can't. Take care, love to your family

[@kaydickerson1229]

Randee Holton But we got this great family to watch, instead ! I can’t do this either...

[@leslillie8365]

Great video Mike.

[@wykeishacraft6820]

Good Morning to Our Wyoming Life

[@jeffryrichardson9105]

Great time had by all! 👍🏾😀❤️🇺🇸

[@rodneywroten2994]

Sorry for the loss of the calf Mike but at least you had some awesome help. Keep punching through

[@patriciabeyer7824]

Thank you for sharing this. 👍

[@8tomtoms8]

I see at least one of the bottle calves is still in the yard. They are part of the family too. Those two calves will probably stay together even when they join the rest of the herd. Really enjoyed the video and the livestream. Looks like you had a good crew on Saturday. Thanks for including all of us that couldn't be there in person. Sorry about the heifer. See you tomorrow.

[@greathodgy22]

Another good video that will open a few eyes, or keep ones closed that have already made up their minds. Thank You !

[@cap3915]

It may have taken me All Day to finish it, but I watched the Entire Video!! That was A Workout for you All for sure!!

[@barbarasherr3737]

Thank you for showing us the detailed procedure for branding. It was interesting. You need to make a suggestion to Air-O- Krip (sp) to meet your branding problem. Love to see what recommendations they can do to make this easier on you.

[@DanKlein_1]

Great to see all the help. I can tell when it came time to release a calf you had some newbies though. There is an art to chasing cattle as to where you position yourself. funny to watch someone stand right in the middle of where you want a calf to go and of course the calfs immediate reaction is to run away from that obstacle. eventually they learn to stand where you don't want calf to go and as far away as possible from where you want the calf to go. Glad you said why you still brand. I am from a tiny farm in PA and don't think of how ranches must be on a much larger scale and the miles of fence and how cattle rustling or lost calves/cattle are still a very real possibility.

[@ttspeedster8930]

Great info 😎🔥💯

[@sarahdougan5156]

Amazing vid mike

[@dallassullivan638]

My daughter and I sat and watched this whole video. She had several questions and was very curious about everything going on. She is making a book about farm life.

[@salvatorem1959]

Nice looking corralling system

[@xtctrader1467]

Watching the diverse crew work like a well oiled machine, is good proof to people not to give up on something because you are afraid of failure. It would be interesting to hear some feedback from some of the folks that had limited or no experience of ranch life before, to see what they came away with

[@kevintanner4881]

that is awesome Mackenzie is learning all this I remember my son was little and he would do all that with us it good to teach them when they're young so when they get older they want to be a farmer or one of run the farm with you what my son is 26 now he has his own little farm with the little heard you got to be proud Mike and Erin's I am

[@kaydickerson1229]

Mike & Erin, the teachers !

[@danielmann3896]

they are doing a fine job

[@skyking228]

Beautiful ranch and out buildings. I wonder if the heifer calf ate something off the menu or got bit/stung. Fun to watch, thanks!

[@carlhedrick7385]

Great video for informative.

[@rolandkisner3356]

You take very care very good care of your animals

[@garyag45]

Invite Mr. Bloomberg to help next year, after all there is no work to ranching and farming. My father raised cattle, he has passed, but I would love to have some of these professional folks try to work with him even in his late 70’s. Would have been fun to watch.

[@johnboling6510]

We have always banded calves standing up. If your worried about kicking, have someone pull the tail straight up. They have less tendencies to kick that way. There are a couple small time cattlemen from southern Indiana that would like to lend a hand during branding some year.

[@ez1913]

What a valuable set of practical lessons for Arrowquip. #1 on questionnaire, -Where is your calf's Brand? Your broadcaster hat shines brightly. Editing an informative, enjoyable to watch video is hard stuff. Watching raw footage can give some folks vertigo and horrible nausea. I hope you're enjoying it still, You're great story tellers. Thanks for sharing, Erin & Mike So sorry for the loss of another calf. Heartbreaking. -EZ

[@rontiemens2553]

Wow I wish I could have participated, but distance and family responsibilities make that impossible. The very best family vacations we took in my youth were when we went to relatives farms and spent those days working our rear ends off doing chores on the farm; from baling and putting up hay from dawn till dusk, milking cows, mucking stalls, spreading manure on pasture, shoveling grain, building cattle feeders, doing concrete work on new silo foundations, trapping gophers, painting fencing, and so on. There is something deeply satisfying about farm/ranch work.

[@susans9617]

at 15:40 or so, the heifer needed to be propped up (not laying flat on her side) to help breathing and stop bloating. Flat on side will 'cause' bloat (due to stomach locations etc). So many things can end a calf's life, I am glad they give all the preventative vaccines! Quick pneumonia from the dust, heat, stress can kill in less than a day.

[@nvdirtfreakful]

"Sternal"

[@boblangenberg7859]

You provide great content mike, thanks for taking the trouble. Is there any way to cut and weld modify the chute? I didn’t get that good a look at it.

[@maverickweldiing8621]

great handling system makes life much easier

[@brucedouglas286]

Like an errand I enjoyed the branding session even though I was Vermont

[@scottruhoff2046]

Time to up grade the calf table , I have the foremost table and love it .

[@dhansonranch]

Good wrap up! I was wondering about the banding standing up with your head right at kick level...I know they usually cow kick..but. Gravity definitely does help, but that was a concern.

[@HNCahoon]

Great production! I didn't bother watching the long version. Just a little more versatility in the squeeze chute, and it'll be smooth processing. Thank you.

[@longcaster]

Well done.

[@robhakeman5873]

Mike I enjoyed watching the live stream Saturday and had to turn around and watch it again today and was really impressed how everyone came together and did there part while you were working with the calf that was hot in your yard. I also thought it was cool that McKenzie was part of the branding and how your crew made her part of it. And hopefully she will want to help next year and she will know what is going on and maybe Grace will want to help also. I Thankyou for the time you put in and show us what it takes to be a rancher and I'm always supporting our farmers and ranchers but just wish prices were higher for all you do to give us quality beef for our food system. Hope you have a great week. Is there any way you can change your location of your brand so the arrowquip would work or can arrow quip change that part of the chute so your brand would work?

[@ICOWBOYIM]

Hi Erin & Mike, great video! LOL, being a rancher is being a "Jack-Of-All-Trades" as the old saying goes 🤠

[@matthewbroome4408]

I found your Branding very interesting and Educational. From a distance it’s easy to see who owns the animal. In the UK a great deal of reliance is put on the ear tag. Without the ear tag the animal loses its trace ability and consequently is not aloud to enter the food chain. A Steer with no ear tag is worthless. A permanent way to ID a steer or heifer is with a microchip that has an ID serial number that you can prove is yours. The chip, in a heifer, can also be used to detect oestrus heat for AIing and linked to blue tooth and Cattle Max can give you a complete animal history as it moves down the excellent Arrowquip handling system.

[@benn1851]

Hey mike, next time it would be interesting to see how you sorted the calves off from their moms. Great video! Thanks

[@robertrab2563]

I wonder if the Co. Airowquip would let you modify the spot war you brand at ? What if you cut and hinge at the bottom at the top put a pin to hold it. Or put in a bar going left to right just above the cafe and one lower than where you brand then cut out the bar that's in the way. There must be a way to modify to make it work for your cafe's an you. Thanks again for the video. God bless you an your family and stay safe

[@davidvail6738]

Mike, have you tried freeze branding and if so, what were the results and your opinion?

[@rubenv.4228]

Awesome

[@billnowlin9148]

Great to see your daughter helping and having fun. Great video! Now I know why you sound like the man on the 6:00 o'clock news. ;-)

[@ronfontenot4534]

Bravo!!

[@7xnative472]

Mike. You should look at BZ welding Calf table and tub.

[@jbellfarmer224]

While I really like that Arrowquip system, I think you bring up a good point for Arrowquip to take back and improve upon an already great system. I would maybe like to see an Arrowquip calf table to fit in their system or maybe making the chute a hair more adjustable for calves that size. I use a rib brand as well and I could see that being a problem for branding my calves as well in that big chute. But overall, it is a nice system and it was another great video!

[@knwslayer866]

My family brands the heifers on the left rib and the steers we brand on the left thigh

[@apallok54]

for those of you saying why don't you use a chip or why don't you do something else, you have to understand ranching is like anything else it's a business. You have to find that common bond between ethical and cost-efficient. Every ranch is different. Mike and Erin are Branding because cost-efficient issues, traditional values and ethical reasons. Do you know how expensive it would be to surgically chip every single cow? Branding is quick easy and effective. It's not a long painful process. It's in and out.