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Brad M. is Ranch Foreman on the East Fork Ranch in Peeples Valley Arizona. The Ranch, established in the early 1900s is a Cow Ranch encompassing 20 sections for 12,800 acres. He is a lofty specimen of a cowboy at 6’ 5” tall, trimmed out at 200 lbs. Brad shared his family roots in Arizona, telling me he is a Native 5th Generation Yavapai County Arizonan. His Grandpa Joe was born in Camp Verde at the “U.S. Cavalry Fort” and ran ore wagons with mules from Crown King to Prescott. His Great Grandpa, born in Bloody Basin, was a Blacksmith for the Cavalry in Camp Verde and his Great Grandma taught school for the Cavalry children stationed there.
Brad worked for the Diamond A Ranch north of Seligman as Wagon Boss. He also rode for the O RO Ranch northwest of Prescott that has one of the more colorful histories in Arizona State History. It’s the only Ranch in Arizona to trace back to a Spanish Land Grant, with approximately 100,000 acres comprised of the “Boca Float No.5 Grant” in the early 1800s.
Brad is kept busy with ranch operations riding herd on 100 head of Angus Cows, 70 Yearling, 60 Replacement Heifers, and 60 Brahma and Herford Bulls. Peppy, his Registered Quarter Horse, and a Catahoula Leopard Stock Dog named “Sam” along with Brad make a great “A” team getting “Ranch Stuff” done in a timely fashion. His boss should be proud! At the age of 43 he tells me he has lived the life of a Workin Cowboy since he first pulled a pair of cowboy boots on as a kid and barring some catastrophe will probably do this till the Lord calls him home to ride another range.
Updated Information
Since my last visit with Brad, at the East Fork, He has signed on with ORO Ranch between Prescott & Seligman, Arizona. With the purchase of the Mahon Ranch, years back, the ORO now encompasses about 210,000 acres of “Deeded” land. I did a photo shoot with Brad at the ORO last week, and he told me that, as Wagon Boss, he would be taking his outfit of 10 Cowboys and a Cook with a Chuck Wagon to round up Cattle on 7 different sections. The Cowboys would take bed rolls and anything they could load on their horse, because they would be bunking on the ground. Brad said they would be leaving Sept. 1st and would complete the Roundup by Nov. 15th, getting the men back to the Ranch every week or so to clean up and restock needed items. The ORO tends to do things like they did years back when Cattle was King. The use of motorized equipment is discouraged, as much as possible, if not completely.
