Riding for the Brand
One of the most unique elements of ranching culture is the brand. The idea of identifying one’s livestock by burning letters, numbers or objects on them is at once peculiar and unavoidable. From the days of the Old West until now, branding is the only surefire (no pun intended) way to claim ownership. Down through time, there have been rustlers who attempt—sometimes successfully, sometimes not—to alter brands for their own profit.
But the origin story of brands has always interested me. Some are obvious, such as an owner’s initials. Others, like the origin behind one of the most iconic brands in Texas, the King Ranch’s Running W, are shrouded in ambiguity. Another famous brand, the Four Sixes, originated simply because they bought a set of cows wearing that brand to start their herd.
In my own family, the stories of our brands are as various as they are entertaining. Living in Colorado, the brand rules are very strict. There is almost no duplication across the entire state. There are very few single figure brands left—if any—and the two figure brands are increasingly rare. Most brands registered in the state today are three figures.
My dad bought his brand, what we call a cross, in the 1980s from a local man in the town we grew up in who was selling all his livestock accouterments. The brand goes on as plus sign, and I’d like to think hide buyers like it, but it wouldn’t have been much good in the old days when rustlers could’ve turned it into about anything.
My brothers and I share a brand, properly called the Running W Over a Standing Mill-Iron. With the last name of Welch and our uncle’s connection to the King Ranch, the Running W has always held a certain appeal to us. Once, I visited the home of noted bit and spur maker Gary Wiggins when he lived near Castle Rock, Colo. He had a pair of boots inlaid with the brand and I told him if he ever wanted to sell the brand, I’d buy it. He said he never would. A few years later, he moved to Kansas, registered it there and decided he could live without owning the Colorado version and let me buy it.
I was able to find a brand for my son, Tate, by thumbing through the brand book. I had the idea that a T8 would phonetically spell his name. Someone had already registered the brand, but wasn’t using it. Eventually, I was able to convince them to sell me the brand for him.
The stories of brands are endlessly interesting. What’s yours?