Working COWS

We had our annual "working cows" day last weekend. I (as usual) was slightly dreading it but planned to overdose on allergy meds and knew I'd be ok. Kels & I got to Roosevelt late Friday night. We had do a quick power shop at the Oshkosh outlet in PC for new summer clothes first. So when you're a kid and stuck in a car seat for 2+ hours and even though its bed time, you have major energy to release. Yep, Kels was WIRED and I was pooped. Ok, so what's new??? We went to bed quite late and woke up EARLY to throw clothes on and head to "The Ola" (neola). Kels LOVES it there. She loves the cows, horses, dirt, corals, tractors, you name it... she loves it. (Whose kid is this anyway???) Dad instantly gave us chores. We were to stand in the street and when the cows came running we were to direct them to the corral. I handed Kels a stick and gave her a quick pep talk. She was feeling ok about the instructions but then almost 200 very large moo-cows & calves came running her way. I looked over at her and her eyes were the biggest I've even seen them. I told her to hold up her stick and be strong and reminded her that they were way more scared of her. She stood there and did GREAT. I was one proud momma. We got them all where they needed to go and then the real work began. Us adults were gathering the meds & coolers & getting everything ready to start working the cows. I looked over at Kelsie and she had climbed through on of the corals and with Kailee following closly behind was going after 2 calves. This kid is fearless of animals. I made her get out because I was worried more cows would be added to that corral. Later in the day, Kels climbed in again with her stick this time and helped Curtis manage the calves. I was just praying she wouldn't get kicked - which thankfully she didn't. She was a great helper all day. She got to see the calf that she fed with a bottle a couple months ago. I don't think it remembered her. :) Somehow all the kids convinced dad that they each needed their names on a calves ear tag. I think it was Kailee's idea even though she was terrified of the calves. Grandpa's always crumble. The kiddo's felt so proud though. It probably comes with some requirement that we have to brush drag or some other ranch chore at least annually. haha Kels especially loved to climb all the gates. Even towards the end when the guys were shipping the cows she stayed at the top of one of the gates and yelled out "Don't worry Papa Don, I'm safe up here". Luckily the day went as good as expected, Kels had a blast & even I survived allergies and eventually got out all the dirt boogers.