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Animal Power classes are the heart of the Tillers'
experience. We'll provide a hands-on opportunity to put your
dreams of working draft animals to the touchstone of reality!
Several teams of oxen and horses are waiting to demonstrate
their power and gentility. We find working with them enjoyable
and productive, but we want you to try them out for yourself
-- whether for rural development, historical re-enactment,
or small farm power. Meet other students who share your interests
and who offer support. Tillers' draft animal classes initiate
you into a new world of empowerment. Come enjoy the challenge.
Ox Drovers' Gathering - 200 -
Past Gatherings
Join many of the 200 members of the Midwest Ox Drovers' Association
to trade tricks. Enjoy the parade of teams or plowing behind
oxen. Challenge others to an obstacle course. Test drive teams
and get driving tips from the masters. Bring your team and
offer inspiration for the Oxen Basics students. Enter the
Mid West Ox Drovers raffle of an ox cart to help support a
growing organization.
Enrollment: 1 to 200 All
Ages
a/ June 20-22, 2008 -- Friday-Sunday, 9am-5pm.
MODA at Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI. Dirk Hildebrandt, MODA President.
Ox Driving - 221
Oxen are an inexpensive alternative to tractors, and an excellent
resource on the small farm or woodlot. You will learn to drive
teams using voice commands. Seasoned oxen and drivers build
your skills and confidence through sequential activities beginning
with the easiest driving teams and moving up to a variety
of field tasks such as plowing. The class concentrates on
driving skills, but also introduces yoking, training, hitching,
and options to voice control systems. (Check about bringing
your animals so they too can learn.)
Enrollment: 4 to 12. Minimum Age: 10.
b/ March 13-15, 2008 -- Thursday-Saturday, 9am-5pm - $225
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI
c/ September 17-18, 2008 -- Wednesday-Thursday, 9am-5pm - $155
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI
This workshop immediately preceedes the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy conference.
Oxen Basics - 222
This comprehensive class on oxen creates memories
for a lifetime. Drive, train, and yoke oxen in a hands-on
sequence to build your skills. Thrill as well-trained oxen
respond to your voice commands--the rural power thrill experience
of a couple centuries ago. Learn to select, team, and care
for your animals. Use low-stress training to teach calves
the responses from scratch. Drive teams hitched to various
loads, practice field tasks, and try your hand at early shop
skills to shape a small yoke to take home. (Materials charges
added for yokes with more than a 6 inch bow width.) If you
have a team, ask about bringing it for a diagnostic workout.
If you like animals or history, make this the outstanding
experience of your year!
Product: small yoke (4-6" bow.) Enrollment: 4 to 16. Minimum Age: 12.
a/ June 16-20, 2008 -- Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:30pm -- $380
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI.
This session immediately precedes the excitement of the annual Ox Drovers'
Gathering.
b/ August 19-23, 2008 -- Tuesday-Saturday, 8:30am-5:30pm -- $380
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI.
Ox Training Clinic
This class is designed for those who want to take their ox
training skills to a higher level. Tillers' staff and
guest instructors will work to share skills for training more
remote commands, driving from behind, options for use of lines,
etc. Participants should have experience driving oxen before
taking this class. Participants will have the first option
to buy the calves trained in the class. Participants
are also encouraged to bring their own oxen and working steers
for focused training.
Enrollment: 4 to 12. Minimum Age: 12.
a/ October 9-11, 2008 -- Thursday-Saturday, 8:30am-5:30pm -- $220
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI.
Draft Horse Basics - 230
Experienced teamsters share draft horse handling, hitching,
and driving skills. Participants hone skills and confidence
starting with simple ground driving of a single horse and
progress to hands-on field work such as plowing. Harness,
breeds, hoof care, health, and conformation are also covered.
Taste the pleasures of working with gentle giants in Tillers'
farm environment and start building the skills you'll need
to do it on your own.
Enrollment: 4 to 16. Minimum Age: 14.
a/ March 25-28, 2008-- Tuesday-Friday, 9am-5:00pm -- $270
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI.
Draft Horse Training Techniques - 238
This class is scheduled to accommodate Draft Horse Basics
students as well as students specifically interested in training
techniques. Watch as lifelong teamster Harlan Yoder takes you
through the steps to form an inexperienced colt into well
behaved workhorse. Topics include working spoiled horses and
building confidence in horses that haven't worked.
Enrollment: 4 to 16. Minimum Age: 16.
a/ March 29, 2008-- Saturday 9am-5pm -- $85
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI.
Re-Inventing Animal Power -- 901
Innovative refinements and adaptations of historically proven
techniques offer great potential for rural communities. This
class shares Tillers' approach to encouraging an attitude
of experimentation through its low-cost technical training.
It builds for students a catalog of innovative techniques
they can share. Offering options and choice is a key to Tillers'
participatory approach. In this survey class, participants
explore conceptual arguments for using animal-power and evaluate
farm implements, excavating tools, and transport vehicles
for their local usefulness. They visit Horse Progress days,
and Amish farms and metal shops, all of which are innovating
with advanced draft animal technologies.
Enrollment: 2 to 16.
a/ June 24-28, 2008 -- Tuesday-Saturday, 9am-5pm -- $375
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI.
Scholarships are available to students and international field
workers.
Draft Animal Power
Instructors
Maurice Collisi, a veterinarian who has
taken several courses at Tillers, has his own team of oxen,
teaches animal health practices and serves as treasurer of
the Midwest Ox Drovers' Association. Maurice is recovering
from a stroke that occurred in the Fall of 1999.
We look forward to his being back out with the oxen
and Tillers classes.
Drew Conroy, an Associate Professor of
Dairy Management at the University of New Hampshire, author
of the Oxen: the Teamsters' Guide Book, and volunteer with
Tillers in Uganda. Drew developed exceptional animal training
and driving skills as a member of a New England 4-H group.
He now judges many ox competitions. He passes his knowledge
along in an enthusiastic teaching style.
Tim Harrigan, present chair of Tillers'
Board, is on the Ag Engineering Faculty of Michigan State
University, owns a team of oxen, and shares Tillers interest
in the use of low-cost animal power in international development.
Fred
Herr, a draft horse teamster, has an excellent ability
to train animals. He keeps his own Belgians hardened by regular
skidding of logs. Fred enjoys sharing harnessing and working
tips from his years of experience.
Ray
Ludwig, author of The Pride and Joy of Working
Cattle, helps out with a few of Tillers' classes. It is always a thrill to watch his measured, considerate,
and effective training of young animals. Ray brings years of training experience plus the leadership
that he and his wife Jean have given to 4-H programs.
Brian
& Kim Patten are recognized by Drew Conroy as
two of New England's most skilled ox trainers.
Dulcy Perkins comes to us from a cattle
ranch in Arizona. Dulcy has worked with several of our teams
of calves. She is very attentive to what makes cattle respond.
Class participants appreciate her quiet tips on how to get
oxen to behave.
Dick Roosenberg, in addition to directing
Tillers, likes to work with oxen. Oxen replaced diesel tractors
in 1969 when he joined the Peace Corps and was assigned to
a UN-FAO ox power project in West Africa. He has since made
a study of draft animal techniques and has help train many
teams at Tillers and in Benin, Senegal, Togo, and Uganda.
John Sarge, a member of Tillers staff,
has had enough time away from the forge and from yoke making
to develop a fine style of ox driving. His knowledge
of Tillers' animals makes him a great resource for guests.
Sue Stejskal, past chair of Tillers'
Board, teaches bovine health from her experience as a vet
tech and an instructor at Michigan State University prior
to earning a PhD in toxicology. She brings the practical skills
of a vet tech to Tillers' classes.
Howard VanOrd, past-president of the
Midwest Ox Drovers Association, has been active for years
with 4-H Ox Teamsters in Northwestern Pennsylvania.
Glen Waldo, a farmer with the experience
of the old school, has worked oxen with lines and enjoys sharing
tips on that technique.
Duane Westrate has
helped with Tillers classes for several years and has a fine
team just down the road. As his skills and his horses
develop, he comes closer to taking a lead over Fred Herr in
the farmer pulling contests.
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