Community invited to branding

Monday evening was the first of what Herf's owners, Austin Karnatz and Barb Woerner plan to provide continuously for years to come - a place to gather, swap stories, be part of a community and, in the near future, to share a meal, drink or watch a game - it was a night of community building. Community residents were invited to Herf's to brand the new bar. There were registered brands which represent a new endeavor like that of Ezekiel and Isaac Meyer and there were brands which represent multiple generations like the Howard and Ollie Hunter brand.

Every new burn mark has a story. One of those brands was a simple O with and H directly above it. It is the historic brand of Howard and Ollie Hunter, Guide Rock. Shelia Daily and her son, Joe, marked Herf's new counter with it to represent the family.

Plus, Joe Daily is eagerly waiting for Herfs opening because he will start cooking for the enterprise. He is the fifth generation of the Howard and Ollie Hunter family to live in the Guide Rock area. His parents, Mitch and Lisa Daily, lived and worked in Greeley, Colorado, while Joe grew up, but often returned to the family farm where his mother's parents, Randy and Shelia, Hunter lived. It was the same area and where Randy's parents, Dean and Neva, lived and his grandparents, Howard and Ollie Hunter, had ranched and farmed.

"This area is just home," Joe said.

"Plus, I was ready for a complete change."

Joe came back to live in the Guide Rock area in October and while waiting for Herf's to open, he has been keeping busy. He cooked for a few weeks in Red Cloud, worked a bit in construction for Rod Hunter and most recently is working at Kenny's Lumber and Farm Supply.

"I know nothing about the lumber yard business, but I am learning while I wait," he said.

What Joe does know and really likes to do is cook, something he did for three years at Firethorn Country Club in Lincoln.

"While at Firethorn, I refined my ability as a cook and worked up to kitchen manager.

"I am super excited as I anticipate feeding people here in a respectful environment. I like making people happy with food," Joe said.

Branding generally is a day time activity, mostly a man's job, done with some extra help from the neighbors or the extended family.

Monday's branding at the bar was very different. The announced time was during evening chore time. So there were far more women branding than per common. Most of them for the first time.

For example, Pat Crockett, a hair stylist by trade, came with three brands representing the Duffy family: a double D for Don; -K for Kent and a R over a D for Dennis and Ron.

It was an amazing sight to see the flames burst forth from the freshly sanded wood and the smoke roll.

Melissa Meyer most likely branded the bar with one of the newest registered brands in the area: horizontal arrows pointing left and right with a "M" in the middle, a brand that will be used by Ezekiel and Issac Meyer.

Steve Werner, Cowboy Corner, owns three registered brands. He brought a simply "O" which he uses as two "O"s side by side.

"It is highly legible and does not smear. That is something one wants in a brand because it is a bill of sale," Werner said.

Werner has a collection of brands and though he used only one Monday evening, there will opportunity to use others later if he wishes.

Besides electric branding irons, there were irons heated until they glowed red in a propane heated cyclinder outside the door. Randy and Jackie Porter pondered what to do when they discovered their branding iron was too big for the heated cyclinder.

Inside the counter was covered with small penciled rectangular marks where historic pictures of the community will be placed after the branding is completed. Then the bar will be epoxied.

"Later, if people bring in brands, the woodwork can be branded," Barb said.

As the evening wore on, people kept coming, the Gebers from Nora, the Heitmans from southeast of Superior, Kyle Bouray, Landon Woerner and many others.

Brands of the area represent the vision Herf's owners have for the establishment - a place where everyone can come without pretense, where community is built.

Everyone keeps asking, "When will Herfs open?"

Joe answered,"Soon!"

Barb said, "When we turn the water on and check to be sure there are no leaks, then it will be soon. I think we are now just a matter of weeks from opening, not months."

Austin Karnatz said, "A small community can survive without a lot of things, but it needs a grocery story, a post office and a restaurant - cafe - bar - a place which builds community."

Herfs consists of two 25 foot wide buildings located in southern part of the main Superior business district.

The bar is located along the north side of the south building. A new kitchen is located at the back of the north building. Vinyl plank flooring is being laid this week in the north building.