Buckaroos in Paradise: Ranching Culture in Northern Nevada, 1945-1982

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Haying, Irrigation, and Branding:
Tradition and Innovation

Old and New

The folklorists, historians, and archeologists who carried out field research during the Paradise Valley Folklife Project documented a wide range of cultural phenomena, old and new. For example, one project researcher carried out an in-depth study of the valley's vernacular architecture, documenting not only turn-of-the-century stone, frame, and adobe buildings, but also newer tract houses, mobile homes, and metal pole barns. Activities on the ranches--especially harvesting hay, irrigating hayfields, and branding calves--also ran the gamut from old to new. Although this topic was not developed to the point of a definitive study, the photographs, audio selections, and video clips in this online collection offer a starting point for some comparisons.