My brother Luke has been hauling cattle for past 20+ years. Starting with just around his feedlot in Worland, he's now graduated to a father/son operation that travels the State and then some. The Clear Creek drainage east of Buffalo is a common run to bring fall calves to the feedlots around Worland. Coming through Buffalo midmorning, and me having a few free hours this afternoon, Luke slowed down as he drove by the Church and I jumped in.
Spring and fall are heavy hauling times around Wyoming. Cattle are either going to summer pasture or coming back from it. Luke has ran hard this fall in his 2026 Kenworth.
Hauling cattle is functional, but it 's also cool. I'm a Peterbilt guy, but Luke likes his Kenworths. He runs his blue truck and his boy Carter runs his own red counterpart. Often they'll run together, but today one truck would do.
Herefords, were the cattle going over the mountain today. This iconic western breed continues to paint a cowboy lifestyle that still lives on today.
This crop's calves are going to the Geis Feedlot, south of Worland.
Once the cows and calves are separated, the driver calls for the first number of critters to fill his deck.
Horses are used for what they can, but in the alley it's all hands, feet, and hotshots.
Being a little more timid that most cattle, these Herefords needed encouragement the whole way up the chute.
Once in, Nick closes the gate behind each bunch.
After he was loaded, Luke backed up and repeated the process.
No dillydallying here. After both trucks were loaded, they hit the trail. Only slowing down to kick me back out at the Church.
Good run. Long cattle drives still happen these days, but more often on top of 18 wheels. No longer is summer pasture or winter backgrounding just down the road. It's state line to state line. If it involves cattle, count cowboys in. Whether its horseback on inside a Kenworth, Luke will be there. Ranch on, brother. Ranch on.
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