Beyond the Brand

Me roping in the calf pen.

Happy first day of summer everyone!! Am I ever glad it has finally arrived... and today, here in Sundre at least, it's sunny, hot and actually feels like summer! 
With summer comes branding season - a busy and fun time of year on the ranch! Once all the calves are born cattle ranchers bring their mama cows and calves in off of pasture and the branding begins! There are two ways of branding: the traditional rope 'em, wrestle 'em, brand 'em (fun!) way, and the more modern run them through the chute and brand them when they are locked in the head gate and squeeze or tipped over on a calf table. Because the calves are already being contained for branding, its a prime opportunity to also castrate the bull calves that you want to make steers, implant those steers, and vaccinate all of the calves. The fun part of branding is that it's usually a big social event, especially when you have a "traditional" branding where lots of hands are required to rope, wrestle, brand, castrate, vaccinate, and implant calves. Neighbours gather at each other's ranches to help each other, and the favor is returned when they need help themselves at their own branding. Good food and drinks, and lots of laughs are shared throughout the day!

Dragging calves to the branding fire.

Branding is the traditional way of marking your cattle as your own, however there is an entirely new meaning to "branding" in the agriculture industry and the world as a whole! In this modern world is seems everything has a "brand". Companies, products, and people can all have their own brand. For example, Nike, Coca-Cola, and Oprah are universally known brands that with just one symbol or word are recognizable the world over. So what does this all mean for agriculture? Well, by creating a "brand" beyond the one you put on your cattle or horses, you open up a world of possibilities for your ranching business. Creating a brand can mean a lot of different things depending on what you want to achieve from your operation. For example, if you raise organic food you can create your entire brand around the fact that you grow/raise this "niche market" product. Some things to consider when you're creating your own brand:

Branding irons make a permanent mark on the animal's hide.

1) A catchy name - nothing captures your potential customers attention better than a catchy name.
2) Logo - creating a logo can be as simple or complex as you would like... creating the logo itself is relatively simple and inexpensive, how you use it is where your creativity plays a role. You can use a logo on websites, letterheads, clothing items, or really anything that you want to advertise yourself on.

Lots of help makes fast work!

3) Create a website - nothing is more frustrating than hearing about a cool company but not being able to find them on the web! Creating a dynamic, interesting, informative website is one of the best ways to get your brand out there. You can do this yourself or by employing a web designer. 
4) Media - get your brand noticed by employing every possible mean of social media... facebook, twitter, blogging, etc. 
5) Get out, get involved - if possible, try to go out to trade shows, competitions, etc. that will get your name and your brand out in the public eye.


Even if you don't have a specific company, you can still brand yourself! If you advocate for agriculture, such as myself, public speak, judge, event plan, do photography... anything! You can become your own brand! And maybe, just maybe, someday you'll be another one name wonder like Oprah, Shania, Reba, Rihanna, Shakira, and J. Lo! 


So go out and get busy promoting yourself or your company as a "brand" because just like with cattle and horse brands, you need your very own unique one to stand out from the rest of the herd!