The ALHFAM 2009 Farmers'  Schools are now completed. Stay tuned for next years offerrings!

Info on the Completed workshops below.

About the Dairy Workshop:
This was a three day intensive program,  focusing on the skills and knowledge needed to care for, maintain and interpret a milking cow in a historic setting.

As in the all Farmer's school, participants spent the 3 days doing the actual work of dairying, including  milking, feeding the cows and calves, cleaning stalls and dealing with manure, and processing the milk.

In addition to the practical, hands-on, "learn by doing" methods, the workshop included classroom-style discussion and presentations on the basics of dairy cow selection and management, including cow/ calf behavior, nutrition, health and reproduction, and other topics as time allows and participant interest directs.   Instruction was provided by experienced ALHFAM members, (and experienced cows).   

About the Oxen workshop:
This was a three day intensive program with a low student to instructor ratio, focusing on the skills and knowledge needed to care for oxen and put them to work in a historical farm setting.

As in the all Farmer's school, participants spent the 3 days caring for the oxen, yoking them, and putting them to work around the farm.  Oxen were worked singly and in a pair.  Field exercises included plowing, secondary tillage, transportation by cart and wagon, and log skidding.  Other field operations that participants are particularly interested in may be included if facilities and time permit.

In addition to the practical, hands-on, "learn by doing" methods, the workshop included discussion and presentations on the basics of feeding, housing, training, fitting yokes, hoof care and other husbandry issues, and other topics as time allowed and participant interest directed.

Instruction was provided by Rob Flory of Howell Farm and other experienced ALHFAM members.

Both workshops  took place at Howell Living History Farm, a facility of the Mercer County Park Commission.

Watch for gallery pictures to appear on the FARM PIG Page

To see photographs from last years Plowing Workshop go to the FARM PIG Page