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Air Education and Training Command

Moo-vin’ through Altus AFB: 25th Annual Cattle Drive

U.S. Air Force Col. Jeffrey Marshall, 97th Air Mobility Wing commander, walks a horse toward a corral during a saddle fitting for the 25th Annual Cattle Drive in Altus, Oklahoma, Aug. 19, 2023. The cattle drive is conducted in the spirit of the ‘Great Western Cattle Trail,’ which started near Kerrville, Texas, and went north all the way to Canada. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kari Degraffenreed)

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Moo-vin’ through Altus AFB: 25th Annual Cattle Drive

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Justin Brundage, 97th Air Mobility Wing command chief, gets his saddle adjusted during a saddle fitting for the 25th Annual Cattle Drive in Altus, Oklahoma, Aug. 19, 2023. Wing leaders and community members guided cattle around Altus Air Force Base on horseback as part of an annual tradition. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kari Degraffenreed)

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Moo-vin’ through Altus AFB: 25th Annual Cattle Drive

Longhorn cattle enter Altus Air Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma, during the 25th Annual Cattle Drive on Aug. 24, 2023. Altus AFB holds the Annual Cattle Drive yearly to pay homage to the ‘Great Western Cattle Trail,’ which was established in 1874 by rancher John T. Lyte. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Heidi Bucins)

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Moo-vin’ through Altus AFB: 25th Annual Cattle Drive

A longhorn grazes during the 25th Annual Cattle Drive at Altus Air Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma, Aug. 24, 2023. The cattle drive is unique to Altus AFB - the only military installation in the world to host this kind of event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Trenton Jancze)

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Moo-vin’ through Altus AFB: 25th Annual Cattle Drive

Leaders from the 97th Air Mobility Wing pose for a photo during the 25th Annual Cattle Drive at Altus Air Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma, Aug. 24, 2023. The command team, group commanders and command chiefs rode alongside local ranchers and dozens of longhorn cattle throughout Altus AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kari Degraffenreed)

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Moo-vin’ through Altus AFB: 25th Annual Cattle Drive

The 2023 Miss Oklahoma Rodeo Queens wave at Airmen and families during the 25th Annual Cattle Drive at Altus Air Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma, Aug. 24, 2023. Altus AFB works with the local community to host the cattle drive annually. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kari Degraffenreed)

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Moo-vin’ through Altus AFB: 25th Annual Cattle Drive

U.S. Air Force Col. Patrick Brady-Lee, 97th Air Mobility Wing deputy commander, rides a horse during the 25th Annual Cattle Drive at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Aug. 24, 2023. Brady-Lee helped guide the cattle around the base as part of the annual tradition. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Heidi Bucins)

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Moo-vin’ through Altus AFB: 25th Annual Cattle Drive

U.S. Air Force Col. Jeffrey Marshall, 97th Air Mobility Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Justin Brundage, 97th Air Mobility Wing command chief, wait for the start of the 25th Annual Cattle Drive at Altus Air Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma, Aug. 24, 2023. Marshall and Brundage are the newest command team leaders at Altus AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Heidi Bucins)

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Moo-vin’ through Altus AFB: 25th Annual Cattle Drive

Children from L. Mendel Rivers Elementary School observe 97th Air Mobility Wing leaders and local ranchers ride horses during the 25th annual Cattle Drive at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Aug. 24, 2023. The kids were able to pet horses and meet with members running the cattle drive. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Heidi Bucins)

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Moo-vin’ through Altus AFB: 25th Annual Cattle Drive

Children from the 97th Air Mobility Wing Youth Center watch horses, riders and cattle during the 25th Annual Cattle Drive at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Aug. 24, 2023. Airmen and families lined the streets to observe longhorns and interact with local ranchers and their horses. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kari Degraffenreed)

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Moo-vin’ through Altus AFB: 25th Annual Cattle Drive

U.S. Air Force Maj. J.D. Oredson, 58th Airlift Squadron instructor pilot, takes a photo of his daughter, Phoebe, during the 25th Annual Cattle Drive at Altus Air Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma, Aug. 24, 2023. Altus AFB’s cattle drive started in 1999 when 15 riders and a herd of roughly 30 longhorn cattle paraded through the streets of Altus AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kari Degraffenreed)

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Moo-vin’ through Altus AFB: 25th Annual Cattle Drive

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Justin Brundage, 97th Air Mobility Wing command chief, speaks to children during the 25th Annual Cattle Drive at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Aug. 24, 2023. The cattle drive is an annual event hosted by base leaders with help from the Altus community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kari Degraffenreed)

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Moo-vin’ through Altus AFB: 25th Annual Cattle Drive

Longhorns graze while walking through Altus Air Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma, during the 25th Annual Cattle Drive, Aug. 24, 2023. The annual event honors the original ‘Great Western Cattle Trail,’ where millions of cattle trekked over 2,000 miles from Texas to Canada. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Heidi Bucins)

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Moo-vin’ through Altus AFB: 25th Annual Cattle Drive

Local ranchers herd cattle off base after the 25th Annual Cattle Drive at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Aug. 24, 2023. After the American Civil War, six million cattle and one million horses traveled the ‘Great Western Cattle Trail.’ (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kari Degraffenreed)

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Moo-vin’ through Altus AFB: 25th Annual Cattle Drive

Members of the Altus Military Affairs Committee serve food to Airmen and their families during the Military Appreciation Night dinner at the Great Plains Stampede Rodeo in Altus, Oklahoma, Aug. 24, 2023. The dinner was held to show appreciation for the Airmen’s dedication and service. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Heidi Bucins)

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Moo-vin’ through Altus AFB: 25th Annual Cattle Drive

Airmen from the 97th Air Mobility Wing stand at attention during the playing of the national anthem at the Great Plains Stampede Rodeo in Altus, Oklahoma, August 24, 2023. During Military Appreciation Night, the rodeo honored the wing command team and Senior Airman Aaron Darling, 97th Security Forces installation entry controller, who represented all the Airmen of Altus Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kari Degraffenreed)

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Moo-vin’ through Altus AFB: 25th Annual Cattle Drive

97th Air Mobility Wing Airmen participate in a tug of war competition at a Military Appreciation Night event in Altus, Oklahoma Aug. 24, 2023. Seven teams of Airmen from Altus Air Force Base took part in the event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Heidi Bucins)

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Moo-vin’ through Altus AFB: 25th Annual Cattle Drive

Leadership from the 97th Air Mobility Wing ride through town during a parade in Altus, Oklahoma, Aug. 27, 2023. The parade was an opportunity for Altus Air Force Base Airmen to show their support and engage with the Altus community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Heidi Bucins)

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Moo-vin’ through Altus AFB: 25th Annual Cattle Drive

Published Aug. 29, 2023
By Senior Airmen Trenton Jancze, Airman 1st Class Karalyn Degraffenreed, Airman 1st Class Heidi Bucins
97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --

Airmen from the 97th Air Mobility Wing hosted the 25th Annual Cattle Drive at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Aug. 24, 2023. The tradition started in 1999 in partnership with the local community to pay homage to the Great Western Cattle Trail of the 1800s. Wing leadership saddled up and helped drive approximately 30 longhorn cattle through the base. To date, Altus AFB is the only Air Force base to host a cattle drive.