Nigh Ox Newsletter

June 2001

2001 MODA Gathering

by Dick Roosenberg

KALAMAZOO, June 2001

The Gathering of Midwest Ox Drovers started early and vigorously this year. On Thursday evening, June 21st, MODA members began to arrive at Tillers to help set up, organize, and exchange tales, although the Gathering wouldn't start until Saturday. Jeff Heib came to set up tents, Drew Conroy was putting final touches on the program, Ed Nelson went to work in the smithing shop on yoking hardware, Betty McGurk came to translate and to facilitate with her guitar, and Tim Huppe arrived with the 4-H coaches.

By Friday, not only had we started the Oxen Basics class for 8 students, but the MODA contingent continued to grow. The rains that had been with us for weeks stopped and the sun emerged. The hay Tillers had cut was drying. The 4-H teamsters stepped in to keep the hay tedder and rake working while Drew and others taught driving to students. Howard Cain and other Tillers' volunteers and staff added a Friday evening meal to welcome everyone.

On Saturday, about 100 people were going through the food line. Perhaps half as many again were visiting between meals or had their own food. Saturday morning the Oxen Basics students were busy working oxen. After a good lunch, Kris and the Tillers' interns lead ox-powered farming activities including haymaking with the hay loader and our new Pioneer motorized forecart powering a PTO baler. Several people worked with Dick and Moses cultivating corn. Most everyone gathered around the barn to help or watch the hay harpoon lift the loose hay from the wagon into the loft behind Marco and Polo and then Paul and Silas.

Brian and Kim Patten, of New Hampshire, were the featured guests of MODA. On Sunday Kim demonstrated calf training and Brian did a nice shoeing demonstration. Brian and Tim Huppe also did a yoke-making clinic. In addition to the traditional parade, MODA had a successful raffle of the Dutch Belt calves trained by Abby Richmond. Since the winner had chosen cash instead of the animals, the calves, Grant and Traveler, were sold at auction to Dulcy Perkins and Gail Graor as a gift to Tillers. There are now black and white animals wandering among the red Shorthorns.

As they were leaving, Howard VanOrd and Tim Hall asked what we would do next year to surpass the fun of 2001. They joked about the difficulty of increasing quality every year. Perhaps what makes each year better is the growing relationships among members and the increasing willingness of everyone to pitch in and help in little ways. The richness of the 2001 Drovers Gathering must be credited to a growing volunteer effort.