Roundup

Thursday we had our annual cattle roundup, and it was probably the best weather we've had in the four years we've been here. It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day to be out having fun. They start out the day with the seniors and some of the older kids riding the horses out in the field to bring in the cows. The funny thing this year was that the cows were all up over a ridge pretty close to where they wanted to bring them, so they sent some kids on foot to drive the cattle out to the people on horses, so that they could then drive them into the corral. No one was thrown off the horse and injured this year, fortunately (that has been a problem in past years). After they brought in the cows, they sorted them out and we ate lunch. After lunch, the fun began. The kids go out in small groups of 4-6 and they send in one calf that they have to wrestle to the ground so that it can be vaccinated and branded. Usually the staff don't participate, but John and I both thought it would be fun to give it a try this year, so I went out with the girls from my class and John did it with the boys from his class. It was fun! The idea is for one person to get the head and the others pull on the legs to knock it down. After chasing the poor little calf around the corral for a few minutes I managed to get it around the neck and the girls knocked it down. We managed to do it without anyone getting kicked, squashed, or pooped on, so I'd say we were pretty successful. The rest of the afternoon, they take the kids on horseback rides, we eat some more, and just hang out. It was a great day, and even better since it is a day we don't have to go to school. It even counts as a school day because it is an educational experience. Its kind of like a field trip to the farm, only we live on the farm.