ROUND UP OLD STYLE AT THE SPRADLIN RANCH

Sonny Spradlin (right) and Barry Hale oversee the roundup at the Spradlin ranch. Others pictured are part of Hale's crew. In the old days, when it was time to bring in the herd, cowboys got their horses, got the dogs and headed out to round up the cattle.

On Sonny Spradlin's ranch, things are done the same way today. Spradlin owns a ranch on FM2012 with approximately 100 head of cattle and it was time to bring them in, tag them, give them shots and perform castrations.

So bright and early on a Sunday morning, a group of cowboys and cowgirl saddled up their horses and headed out on the 700-acre spread to bring in the herd.

Spradlin said there is one steer he bought in 1983 and is now 26 years old. "He's been here for a long time and I will leave him here until he dies," said Spradlin.

The cattle were rounded up in two groups, joined together in one herd and then driven to the pens. Once in the pens the wranglers cut the calves from the rest of the heard and, utilizing traditional cattle chutes, loaded up the cattle that had to be moved to another location in trailers.

Berry Hale helped Spradlin coordinate the drive.

Spradlin said one of the more interesting things to watch is when the dogs are brought out. "The dogs help pick up the strays from the herd and keep them all together," said Spradlin.

When driving cattle on that many acres, the trick is to keep them going in the right direction and not let them get around the wranglers. The whole drive took a couple of hours and went off without a hitch.

It just goes to show that some things never change — except for the use of a cell phone or two.