Press release
Northeast Animal-Power Field Days comes to NOFA Summer Conference, August 12-14, in Amherst, Massachusetts.
In 2011 the Northeast Animal-Power Field Days will be held in conjunction with the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) annual Summer Conference. The Northeast Animal-Power Field Days (NEAPFD) is a unique educational event focused on the use of draft animal power in farming and logging.
NEAPFD has been held annually at the World's Fairgrounds in Tunbridge, Vermont since 2007, and has attracted from four to six hundred attendees each year. By joining the NOFA Summer Conference, which has been running for 36 years and generally attracts around 1500 people, NEAPFD will reach a much broader audience.
The bulk of NEAPFD will be held at the University of Massachusetts Research Farm in South Deerfield, MA. The UMass Research Farm features the steep slopes and red cliffs of Mt. Sugarloaf at its back and the mighty Connecticut River at its foot, and sits on some of the most productive soils in the region.
More than 30 of the most experienced teamsters from across the Northeast will be convening to share their knowledge and skills with those in attendence. Some of the those presenting include Sam Rich, 2007 National horse-drawn Plow Champion, Robert Crichton, who has been farming with mules for over thirty years, and Kenneth Mulder, Phd. who teaches applied oxen power at Green Mountain College in Putney, VT.
There will be upwards of 40 oxen, mules, draft horses, mini horses, and draft ponies working in a variety of settings. The event will span the full three days of the conference - Friday through Sunday - and will feature over 40 workshops. Workshops will cover a broad range of topics and will cater to the curious novice on up to the professional teamster. There will even be opportunities for children and teens to handle and drive mini horses, calves, and a cow!
There will be workshops on everything from selecting calves to animal-powered grain production; from ox yoke making to logging equipment innovations; from hands-on driving for beginners to perfection plowing, and dozens more practical workshops to help attendees begin or improve on their work with draft animals. Workshop categories include Animal-Power in Forestry, Tillage, and Haying; Draft Animal Health Care; Animal-Powered Equipment; and Draft Animal Training. On Sunday morning of the conference, Natural Roots farm in Conway, MA will host participants for an in depth tour, featuring demonstrations of equipment innovations and techniques in this horse-powered produce operation.
In addition to the workshops, animals, equipment, and community that participants will find at NEAPFD, registration to this year's event includes all that the NOFA Summer Conference has to offer as well. The NOFA Summer Conference features over 200 workshops on topics including farming, gardening, alternative energy, homesteading, crafts, and more.
This year's keynote speakers are Eric Toensmeier, perennial edible-forest gardening expert, and Dr. Ignacio Chapela, GMO activist and Biology Professor from UC Berkeley. Each evening features live entertainment, and Saturday afternoon will feature a farmer's market, country fair, and silent auction. Dormitory housing is available, and camping is available on the UMass campus. The NOFA Children's Conference provides hands-on learning opportunities for ages 5-12 and the Teen Conference offers workshops for people in junior high and high school.
When participants join in this unique event, not only will they be building their skills, but they will also be helping to build the animal-power community. This community is a crucial resource for all who are working with or aspiring to work with draft animals. More information on the conference can be found on the website (www.nofasummerconference.org). Online registration will be available in May. You may also contact Ben Grosscup, Conference Coordinator, (413) 549-1568 for more info about the conference.