Olancha Cowboys

We stopped in Olancha for lunch on the way to Lee Vining for the Eastern Sierra Photo Workshop. When we were leaving the cafe I noticed horses and other activity happening directly across hiway 395. We crossed the road and I discovered that the owner of the ranch, his family, friends, and ranch hands were branding and castrating young calfs. We all know that young calfs are castrated so they don't become bulls.

The ranch people very friendly and acting as were wen't even there. It was quite the scene with the ranch hands lassoing calfs and the children helping with the branding.
The son of the owner is pictured holding the testicles of the calf. There was a bucket full of them.
These beef are the grass fed variety and cared for by a ranch family. I was reminded of the violence that is involved in the raising of farm animals.
Olancha sits at the south end of the former Owens Lake which was drained by the Los Angeles Water & Power in the 1920s.

Gallery LINK HERE