Special Report

Teaching the tradition of draft animals

Tillers International is a 33-year-old not-for-profit organization that helps educate people about rural heritage. Peter Robertson says while they are based in Michigan, they train people throughout the world.  Among the programs they train people how to use draft animals be it horses, oxen or other animals around the globe.

He says the “local foods” movement has encouraged more people to get back to the farm to raise food for themselves and others. As they get larger, they often choose to get into draft power as part of a sustainable agriculture system.

Tillers has a 430-acre farm at Scotts, Michigan where “anyone can come and take-a-turn behind a team of horses or oxen.” They have beginner classes where people learn the basics including caring for the animal, harnessing, driving and using different implements.  Advanced learning includes plowing, making hay, logging and others.  Robertson says the farm presents a setting “where people can learn and gain confidence in these skills.”

Classes run anywhere from a day to a week plus they have several “events” throughout the year where people can stop-in and give it a try.  Read more at the Tillers website:

Robertson talks about the organization: