"The Signature"

by
Greg Kelsey

Brands have been used through the centuries as a permanent distinctive mark of ownership and identification.  They are one of the most interesting tools used by livestock people today.  They protect the livestock, proving ownership, and are a deterrent to theft.  "Trust your neighbor.  Brand your stock."  "A brand is something that won't come off in the wash."  Each brand is different than all others, and in most cases are now registered with the county and with state brand boards.  Brands often convey the character of the owner, and have a language all their own.  The ability to read them is referred to as "callin' the brand."  They are always read top to bottom, left to right, outside to inside. 
Many ranches have come to be identified by their brands.  With the mark of the brand comes the pride in ownership.  Brands have come to indentify places and families and decades of hard work and dedication.  If you're "ridin' for the brand" your working for that one outfit, that one owner, and your pride and loyalty are with that one brand.  A cowman might as well sign his brand as his name, and they do when they burn it on their stock.  It is their signature.  The pride in a brand runs through generations and becomes the trademark of the family.
Your personal brand can be placed on the cow boss' batwing chaps.