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Ten Things You May Not Know About… Corral Work

Posted on September 18, 2021September 18, 2021

We’ve just come off of pregnancy testing… which is done in our mountain corral. They are long days… though they’ve been longer days in the past. We have been known to have to use flashlights to find calves’ tag numbers because we would wean those calves belonging to the “open” (non-pregnant) cows. That was a while ago, and now we’ve changed things up to where we’re finished in daylight. Working in corrals is NOT a romantic part of ranching. Here are ten things you may not know happens when you do corral work.

  1. It will be loud. If you’re doing cows, they may be bawling for their calves that were weaned the day before. The hydraulic chute of the veterinarian runs off of a little motor that drones on all day. The wind, unfortunately, is usually blowing on the mountain and it may increase throughout the day depending on the weather. We work in many quiet settings, preg-testing is NOT one of them.
  2. It will be dusty. Cows tromping around in enclosed spaces usually beat down the grass to a fine dark dust. That dust will influence your entire day.
  3. Your socks will be black. Laugh at that, but the dust by the end of the day will have climbed up your cowboy boots and fallen down to your socks in such abundance you will be impressed.
  4. Your eye mucus will be black. Forget mascara and eye liner, everyone that helps will most likely have black in the corners of their eyes before the end of the day.
  5. Your snot will be black. That dust just keeps going… you don’t realize how much dust you’ve breathed in until you’re still blowing black snot the next day or two.
  6. You will have a line of dirt across your front teeth. It amazes me when people have never worked outside and gotten that disgusting slime line on your teeth that absorbs the dust. No biggee, a swipe with your shirttail or sleeve will wipe it off, just double check what else is on your shirttail or sleeve first.
  7. You will have green slick poop on your boots, poop on your jeans and shirt, maybe some cow snot on your shirt. And dust. Lots of dust. Run your clothes through your washing machine twice or do a steam clean and extra rinse just to make sure they approach clean.
  8. The accumulated dust and other materials on your hands will be barely wiped off on your jeans when cookies or drinks are passed around for quick breaks. If you can’t eat with filthy hands, don’t eat. We do provide washbasins and soap for the main meal, but most people don’t bother with that for snack time. We just call it “building your immune system”. Oh, and wipe off the top of your water bottle before taking a drink.
  9. The food will be good. Whether that is due to mountain air, hard work, good cooks, or homemade/fresh ingredients is up for debate.
  10. You may: get a sliver from the fence, get a sliver from your fiberglass sorting stick, pinch a finger in a gate, roll your ankle on a rock or random board, break a fingernail, scratch yourself on wire, need to rinse off some ivermectin or bleach, have a calf or cow run over you or kick you, or get sunburned even under all that dust. You may also freeze to death, see this entry HERE.
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4 thoughts on “Ten Things You May Not Know About… Corral Work”

  1. Joanne says:
    September 20, 2021 at 12:11 PM

    Mmm maybe I won’t apply for a job of ranch hand!!!! As Susan says, God bless ranchers and farmers. They work so hard to provide our food.

    Reply
  2. Denny144 says:
    September 19, 2021 at 4:50 PM

    Now I feel the need to go take a shower

    Reply
  3. Stephen Tuck says:
    September 19, 2021 at 7:43 AM

    You forgot “what’s said in the yards, stays in the yards”. Lord, working with cattle has seen my father and I say things to each other that we’d NEVER have said in calmer moments! “Cow rage” is a real thing. Before I was born, there are stories of my dad and grandfather just about coming to blows while handling cattle!

    Reply
  4. Susan says:
    September 19, 2021 at 5:32 AM

    Haha! What a list Carol! God bless all our ranchers and farmers!
    Without you we wouldn’t eat!

    Reply

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Carol, Wyoming rancher

Since 2008, I’ve kept this photographic journal of life on a Wyoming ranch.  I share ranch work, my family, crafts and DIY, my English Shepherd, Bravo, and a love for this land.  Enjoy this red dirt country!

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