Here come the Herefords, charging past the pens at Pitchfork Ranch, a 165,000-acre slice of Southern Plains west of Guthrie along the South Wichita River. It’s December 1976, and these ruminants have just been put through the ringer: a cattle roundup, which was a harrowing experience for all animals involved. On the other hoof, rowdy ranch hands rejoice over cobbler and sourdough biscuits prepared in a Dutch oven, chuckwagon style. Roundups have long been a fixture of cowboy culture on the state’s legendary ranches, such as the Goodnight, Kleberg, Chisholm, and Loving. This Texas Highways photo by Jack Lewis was taken on such an occasion, as the livestock left their handlers behind and headed for greener pastures.
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