For 9 years, Rene‚ A. Heil has traveled with ranches from Mexico to Montana capturing the dust & smoke of working ranches and working cowboys during the Spring Roundup.

This artistically designed 12 by 10 inch coffee table book contains over 150 large color photographs of working ranches in the Nebraska Sandhills during the 2005 spring branding season. It tells of the early history and development of the cattle industry in Nebraska as well as the story of each ranch that was photographed. Rene‚ skillfully captures the individual cowboy as well as the community gathering of neighbors helping neighbors. Beautiful matched herds are shown being gathered in the towering sandhills where crews of 50-100 workers will process 300 to 500 calves per hour. The viewer is able to see the corral filled with action as hot irons, sharp knives and skilled ropers create a world of dust and smoke.

There is a personal touch in Rene's photography as he zooms in on family and neighbor relationship. Grandparents who have lived so many seasons of roundups are present as well as fathers and mothers teaching their children the art of flanking and roping, and working the herd.

Then, there are the photos of the social dynamics when neighbors commune with each other at the noon meal or the evening campfire. A neighbor in the Nebraska Sandhills is someone who lives only 30-40 miles away and where children still attend a one room school. This neighboring-up is a time to share a common history and tell stories of days when the pastures were bigger and the cattle were wilder.

In today's world of fast movement among crowds of unknown masses, it is refreshing to see a photographic work depicting people helping one another and having time to spit & whittle by a prairie campfire.

Rene A. Heil was able to capture some of the magic in this book of the Spring Roundup in the Nebraska Sandhills.

This book captures 9 of these Sandhill Ranches during their Spring Roundup:

The Kime Cattle Company: Nenzel, Nebraska.
The Rock‚en J Ranch: Cody, Nebraska
The Frauen Ranch: Sparks, Nebraska
The Churchill Ranch: Valentine, Nebraska
The J.H. Minor Company: Hyannis, Nebraska
The Shadbolt Cattle Company: Merriman, Nebraska
The Roberta Sherman Ranch: Valentine, Nebraska
The Three Bar Ranch: Nenzel, Nebraska
The Bow & Arrow Ranch: Valentine, Nebraska

Price: $39.00 + s&h

Now Available for Order. Order now and have your copy in time for Christmas.
Dust & Smoke: Spring Roundup in the Nebraska Sandhills
$39.00*
*plus shipping & handling