James Wooldridge Visual Storytelling

Ryan Kucera (right), Tyler Olson, Russ Kucera and Trent Brondel brand and castrate a calf on the Kucera's ranch in Central City, Neb.

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."

Cody Kloxin relaxes after helping brand calves.

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.

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.

Friends and family drove from all over the state to help the Kuceras wrestle, brand and castrate calves.

Kayden Tyan, 7, helps her stepfather Ryan Kucera castrate calves. Ryan wielded the knife while Kayden pulled the testicles out and flung them aside.

Russ Kucera holds a castrating knife between his teeth.

Kayden Tyan kisses her show cow Snow Flake after helping with the Kucera's branding in Central City.

Cowboys relax in the barn after a long day branding.

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.