A Broken Arrow rancher is gaining attention on social media after a family posted a video of him jumping into a frozen pond to save a calf.
The video shows tense moments as rancher Hunter Wagnon breaks through the ice to reach the struggling calf before it stops treading water.
Tense moments: “Can you find me a way out?”
In the video, Hunter can be heard asking his brother, who is breaking up the ice, “Can you show me a way out?” as he makes his way back through the freezing water in below-freezing temperatures.
“I didn’t know how long it had been there. My brother didn't know either. So time was of the essence. I didn’t have time to get anything,” Wagnon said.
Overwhelming response to the viral video
Hunter says the response to the video has been overwhelming.
“Every rancher does it. All my friends have done it before,” he said. “It’s a huge financial loss, but at the same time we really love these animals.”
A family legacy of ranching and dedication
Hunter, his brother Conner, and their father all manage livestock on the family ranch in Broken Arrow. It's a way of life that her father, Jeff, started more than 40 years ago. Seeing his sons spring into action to save an animal doesn't surprise him.
“If you knew Hunter and my guys, you would know they were going to do this,” Jeff Wagnon said.
“We all love it. It's a lot of work, but it's one of the most rewarding things to take care of these animals, to be blessed to care for God's creation and to see these little calves grow up healthy and strong,” Hunter said.
The Wagnon Cattle Company is a cow-calf operation that proudly raises its animals in the traditional cowboy style, using roping and riding techniques.