Registration for Friday Intensive courses Only

WALK-INs Welcome, Pre-Registration Appreciated

Free Camping available to participants all 3 days! Campers welcome, no hookups available

Friday Catered Lunch and Dinner Included 

Dietary preferences will be recorded upon purchase.

INTENSIVES

This year we are again offering Oxen Basics, Draft Horse Basics, Farming, and Forestry, and we are adding Mowers. Both Forestry and Mowers will be observation-style education, not as hands-on. You can expect to check out mowers and handle equipment, walk around in the woods, but not handle draft animals or personally operate equipment in either of those workshops. In the “Basics” and Farming intensives you definitely will have your hands on the lines; consider these workshops if you are curious about working with draft animals but have never or hardly had the opportunity to learn to drive. 

OXEN BASICS & BEGINNING TEAMSTER TRAINING (hands-on)
Ray Ramsey, Coordinator

Join a group of ox teamsters in a one day open forum, using hands on training experiences to

further your knowledge in the oxen world. The morning will start with discussions on breed selections, housing, feeding, and basic training. Following with practical hands on yoking, yoke fit, and driving a team. We will dive into voice commands, body position, and stick placement. You will also be exposed to working with a single ox, equipment for both single and with a pair, and long term care such as veterinarian and hoof maintenance. We will wrap up the day with instruction on making your own yokes as your team grows. This all-day intensive workshop is open to individuals of all ages who seek a practical approach to working with oxen in both farm and forest settings.

DRAFT HORSE BASICS & BEGINNING TEAMSTER TRAINING (hands-on)
Sara Dougherty, Coordinator 

This all-day intensive is open to beginners, who are interested in learning about and practicing the basic care, training, and driving techniques needed when working with draft horses. Spend the morning learning about grooming, harnessing, and driving techniques, followed by a fun exercise in ground-driving a single draft horse vs. a team of them. After lunch, participants will return to the intensive to review various driving implements, like farm carts and drags, and safety techniques to use when hitching horses to them. Participants can expect to end the day with trying their hands at driving a single draft horse or team, while hitched to an implement. This intensive is designed for young and old folks alike. The hope is every participant will have an opportunity to get hands-on with the horses and that we will be answering lots of questions throughout the day. Teaching Teamsters will be revealed in the coming months, leading up to the 2024 Draft Animal-Power Field Days, so keep your eyes open for those announcements!

MOWER INTENSIVE (observation)
Donn Hewes, Coordinator
Horse drawn mowers are great machines that can cut a lot of hay, but they can be a bummer when they plug, or break, or don’t work right.  We will be re-assembling a rebuilt McCormick Deering #7.  As we go we will discuss and demonstrate all the common repairs, maintenance and tuning that go into making this machine work as it should. With the gear box open and pitman shaft removed we will discuss the common oil leaks and their repairs.  Working as a group we will reassemble the mower while creating the timing and lead needed for best operation.  Finally, we will use a combination of new parts and proper adjustment to make the friction free knife that horse drawn mowers love. By the end of the day we will field test the finished machine ready for a raffle.  We will cover safely hooking to and use of a mower for beginning teamsters and horses that haven’t mowed before. This is a hands-on workshop, so bring gloves and clothes that can get a little grease on them! 

FORESTRY INTENSIVE (observation)
Emily Brown & Tom Jenkins, Coordinators

Looking to learn more about draft powered logging? Draft powered forestry is a rewarding and fulfilling career path for many teamsters, while also adding value to your woodlot. Whether you're looking to diversify your farm/woodlot or start your own draft powered forestry business there is something for you. Here you will learn and witness from professional loggers and foresters first hand what makes them tick. In the morning we will head to the woodlot where teamster presenters will showcase some of the equipment and techniques used in their daily work in the woods. They will also discuss the benefits of silvicultural prescriptions like timber stand improvements, while also demonstrating the importance of safety in the woods.In the afternoon, there will be time for presenters to talk and answer questions about the basis of their business. This workshop is designed for participants to learn about the techniques used by professionals while proactively working towards a healthy woodlot with the use of draft power.  Participants will also learn the inner workings of running a draft powered forestry business. The teamster presenters will be working with their own horses and oxen.

FARMING INTENSIVE (hands-on)
Michael Glos & Bill West, Coordinators

This all-day intensive is open to beginners who are looking to learn more about how draft animals can be used in farming operations. Draft animal farming equipment will be reviewed, there will be a discussion around training techniques and safety when hitching, with a focus on primary tillage to follow. Sign up and try your hands at some sod-busting and enjoy watching mowers in use, and we’ll plan to wrap up the day with a discussion around the variety of applications for straddle-row cultivators, including a side dresser. More details on instructors will be available soon, so keep your eyes open for the announcement of those names!