‘Ranchers Roundup’ at Museum of the Coastal Bend

The Museum of the Coastal Bend on the Victoria College campus is hosting a ranching roundup this week. The roundup includes a branding activity and registration for the Statewide Cattle Dipping Vat Inventory, along with news and information about the museum's exhibits and the chance to visit with other area ranchers. Ranchers will get the opportunity to burn their livestock brands for inclusion in the museum's permanent Brand Wall exhibit that currently showcases more than 150 local brands. "We'll provide the heat source and a 10-by-10 inch wooden tile for branding at no charge,"  director of the museum, Sue Prudhomme, told the Victoria Advocate. "Brand burning will begin at 4 p.m. in the museum's outdoor demonstration area, and we welcome those who'd just like to come and watch."

For ranchers and landowners who may have historic livestock dipping vats on their property, Dr. S. Alan Skinner will also be on hand to register dipping vats for the statewide cattle dipping vat inventory starting at 5:30 p.m. He will also present an update on the inventory and discuss opportunities to participate in the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory's efforts to document historic cattle dipping vats in Texas.

Museum members, volunteers and staff are also encouraged to attend an informal reception as the museum prepares to say farewell to the "Cattle Boom!" exhibit and welcome the upcoming "Winning the West: Firearms in the Coastal Bend" exhibit.

Visitors will also get a sneak peek at an experimental "wordless" exhibit at the museum where they'll be asked to share a response to a designated artifact. These responses will be used to help create artifact exhibits included in the upcoming expansion of the "LaSalle Odyssey" exhibit.

The 'Ranching Roundup' is for ranchers and the community at the Museum of the Coastal Bend, 2200 E. Red River St. in Victoria from 4pm to 7 p.m. on Oct. 18. Ranchers interested in making their mark may contact Susan Prudhomme at 361-582-2436 or via email at sue.prudhomme@victoriacollege.edu to reserve a wooden tile.