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When the Rafter E branded recently, a bunch of us went out to help. There‚s a definite pecking order here, and it‚s a badge of pride to have worked your way up the branding ladder.

As a kid, you flank the calves; you grab them, throw them and hold them down. This is conducive to abrasions, muscle strain, and involuntarily changing the color of your shirt.

As you get older, you get to handle the branding iron, then move up to giving shots. After that comes earmarking. When you reach the...