Back in 1969, the Watt family bought a ranch just north of Kamloops, BC along the North Thompson River in Barriere. The story goes, that the ranch was 91 miles south of Blue River by rail. The brand itself is actually described as an inverted J and a 1, for 91.
Brands are part of the rich history and tradition of ranching. Ranchers use a brand to mark their livestock to easily identify them out on range, or if they are lost, or even stolen.
Hot brands and electric brands, are typically made from steel, while freeze brands are usually made from brass or copper. When a freeze brand is applied, it will actually change the color of the animal’s hair to white. If it’s a white or grey horse, it may be more of a dark grey. You will more often see freeze brands on horses.
Figuring out how to decipher and understand a brand is an artform in itself. Brand offices and inspectors understand the language of ‘lazy’, ‘hanging’, ‘flying’, ‘running’ and are the officials when it comes to deciphering a brand.
When we branded our calves in early spring we would test the heat of the brand on a nearby fence board. This board is now the center board on our dining table.
91 Brand – Watt Ranch
Brian and I no longer have the home ranch. We have moved a couple of times and since Brian’s retirement, we hit the road and travelled east, back to my old stompin’ grounds, on the prairies with big skies and sunsets.
The 91 is in our hearts and lives with us wherever we are. We continue to hold the registration on the 91 brand. The 91 brand lives on in all of our work. It’s in our hearts forever.
