sign of spring
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Ryan Kucera (right), Tyler Olson, Russ Kucera and Trent Brondel brand and castrate a calf on the Kucera's ranch in Central City, Neb.
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The Kuceras have about 20 friends and family helping them brand calves every year. "It's kind of a celebration," Carolyn Kucera said. "Just helping your neighbor without pay. It's about friendship."
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Cody Kloxin relaxes after helping brand calves.
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After roping and dragging a calf out of the pen, cowboys hold it down while castrating, vaccinating and branding it. Finally, it is released back into the herd.
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Trent Brondel (right) and Tyler Olson wrestle a calf to be branded. The Kuceras say that the yearly practice of branding cattle is a "lost art." Most ranchers around Central City run cattle through a calf cradle, a machine that holds the calves in place as they're branded. But the Kuceras still wrestle calves the old fashioned way.
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Friends and family drove from all over the state to help the Kuceras wrestle, brand and castrate calves.
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Kayden Tyan, 7, helps her stepfather Ryan Kucera castrate calves. Ryan wielded the knife while Kayden pulled the testicles out and flung them aside.
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Russ Kucera holds a castrating knife between his teeth.
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Kayden Tyan kisses her show cow Snow Flake after helping with the Kucera's branding in Central City.
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Cowboys relax in the barn after a long day branding.
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Cowboys wait in the Kucera's yard before branding cattle. Friends and family drove from all over the state to help the Kuceras wrestle, brand and castrate calves.