2010 Northeast Animal-Power Field Days

Friday-Sunday, October 15-17

Tunbridge Fairgrounds, Tunbridge, VT 05077

Dedicated to working draft animals in enterprises that support sustainability of local communities and vital land-based economies

The Northeast Animal-Power Field Days (NEAPFD) is a clearing-house for educational and operational resources, building networks, and sharing experiences around the many aspects of draft animal-power, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and local food systems. NEAPFD attracts a large audience each year including 4-H students, college students, young farmers looking to build skills and find mentors, resource individuals and businesses sharing their knowledge and tools, experienced farmers wanting to adopt new practices, and the veteran teamsters sharing stories and experiences to an enthusiastic audience of men, women, and children.

The three days will be filled with equipment demonstrations, field and forest intensives, draft animal power workshops, classroom style workshops, networking sessions, local food vendors, farmers market vendors, indoor & outdoor exhibitors, and an equipment swap-meet where used items are bought and sold by attendees.

Friday, October 15th will feature field and forest working demonstrations at Howevale Farm, adjacent to the Tunbridge Fairgrounds. There will be animal-powered equipment, from current manufacturers and innovators, exhibited and demonstrated in real working situations, with horses, oxen, and mules providing opportunities for attendees to gain intensive exposure; focusing on skills, techniques, and applications of the featured equipment by regional experts. Equipment manufacturers and representatives will also be on hand to answer questions and to highlight design features of their pieces being demonstrated. Friday evening will include an Open Mic: Storytelling, music, poetry, etc.with the likes of Lynn Miller, Jay Bailey, Howard VanOrd, Carl Russell, and many others.

Saturday, October 16th will include a 1:00 pm Greeting by Lynn Miller, followed by a 2010 Feature Farmer Recognition award and a Keynote Address by Carl Russell. The day will start at 8 am and will include Classroom-Style workshops, equipment presentations, draft animal presentations, ongoing demonstrations, indoor and outdoor resource exhibits, farmers market vendors, a swap-meet featuring used equipment and supplies for sale, local food vendors, and a raffle-prize drawing in the afternoon. Saturday evening there will be a Film Documentary viewing of 'The Farmer and the Horse' by Jared Flesher

Sunday, October 17th will start off with non-denominational church service at 7 am followed by a Community Meet -The -Teamsters Breakfast and opportunities for one-on-one time with teamsters, exhibitors and equipment dealers. There will also be an obstacle course from 10 am - noon where teamsters can test their teams and demonstrate their skills. VT Secretary Roger Allbee will give a talk on the History of Vermont Agriculture at 11:00 am followed by the premier annual meeting of the newly formed Draft Animal Power Network.

Our hope is that the membership meeting will provide the leadership and direction needed in order for the Northeast Animal-Power Field Days, and regional DAPNET member workshops in the Northeast to continue and grow. The Member Meeting will wrap up by 2:30 pm.

For more information about the field days, you can visit our website for a full schedule, membership and admission rates: www.animalpowerfielddays.org, Email: info@animalpowerfielddays.org, Phone: 802-234-5524.