We have a new logo! I decided to move ahead with a rebranding of our Moana business this fall because there are a few too many horse businesses that were using the horse silhouette in our previous logo and I wanted to be unique! The new logo not only is original to me but also to the history of my Morgan breeding program. It is a brand that reads lazy M, R, bar and stands for Marvin Radtke. Marvin was my grandfather on my paternal side and not only registered and used this brand on his cattle in Montana but was the founder of Moana Morgans. The brand is used on a cow’s left rib and a horse’s left thigh and is easily recognizable on an animal. The purpose behind hot iron branding your animals is that they have a permanent marking that is registered in your name and if they get lost in the vast landscape of Montana or are stollen they would be able to be tracked and hopefully returned to you. The state of Montana requires a brand inspection if you are crossing county lines or selling an animal. A brand inspector will come out to your property and inspect the animal for brands and markings and send you with a paper that says the animal in yours and the paperwork is in order.
Marvin moved to Montana in 1936 during the depression and started working on cattle ranches. Shortly after moving he married Alberta Atwell and they purchased a ranch in Alberta’s hometown of Hall MT. After the purchase of the ranch they started raising there own cattle and Marvin designed this brand to be used on his cattle. The brand’s design is not only a reflection of his initials but is easily readable and vents well so that when put on a cow it won’t turn into lump of burnt hide. Marvin and Bertie used horses regularly on the ranch to move cattle and also harvesting crops. These horses started out being crossbreds but in 1975 they registered their first Morgan with the AMHA and the Moana Prefix was developed. This horse was Moana Velvet (Luzan x Leota) and she went on to produce 5 foals for them and her last foal was Moana Madame who I remember vividly!
Our new logo is not only unique in it’s design but it is also unique to my heritage and the Morgan breed!
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