Show a Little Class (1)

It might be possible to drive oxen, train oxen, and make yokes all on your own, but learning from someone sure speeds the process along.

Last week, ahead of the Midwest Ox Drovers Association's Gathering, Tillers hosted the Oxen Basics class for eight visiting students.  As usual, the class was an eclectic mix of interesting people connected by curiosity about oxen.  Cameron, Kenny and Kesi were farmers hoping to use oxen, Dan was a professor of large animal reproduction with 20 years of oxen experience, Stephan and Barb worked in museums and living history, Tim accompanied his son, Stephan, so he could also work in living history, and Jim was tuning up Percy and Carter for the summer fairs he attends.  

We enjoyed the week and had just enough mishaps to get a sense of what working with draft animals is really like.  More on that later.  

With a bit of coaching, some initial missteps, and a great deal of breakthroughs, the students all progressed, with some fine, precise driving coming at weeks end.  Cultivating corn with both single animals and teams illustrated the fine work that oxen can do.

The posted photos show the best parts of a class: the friendships that develop over a week- between both people and animals.  Cameron is working with Jim's team, as Jim graciously allowed the boys to be "guest instructors" for the week.  

It's always a shame to see a class end, but everyone needs to move on to the next adventure.   Godspeed, folks.