“Operation Oxen” on Martha's Vineyard

Henry turned his calf Cheese into a farmer at the Martha's Vineyard October Festival. Mac and Cheese are two of the twelve calves in the new Martha Vineyard's 4H Working Steer program.

I never thought I'd yearn to spend time on an island until I discovered Martha's Vineyard. It's not the sandy beaches, sailing, or fishing that captivate me; it's the farms where "local" is defined by 60,000 acres surrounded by the ocean. 

Here, farmers markets and the catch-of-the-day are just a short drive away in my semi-retired "island truck." Stashing our 2011 Ford F150 on the island seemed an original idea, but others have been doing it for years. The place is a sanctuary for vintage cars. Old cars are a status symbol, and the older the car, apparently the wealthier the driver.

To be clear, even though our old truck lives on Martha's Vineyard, we don't. Husband Bruce and I don't own or even rent a house on Martha's Vineyard. For warm weather, we have a tent (advertised as sleeping nine, but suitable for only two unless you are a sardine), and we’ll stay at Slough Farm in winter. So, what are we doing on Martha's Vineyard?

Child Teamsters?

We go there to coach a spirited group of 4H kids, aged 11 to 14, who aspire to be teamsters, not the truck-driving kind, but the oxen-driving kind.

Oxen on Martha's Vineyard are nothing new. Back in the day, the island had (literally) tons of ox teams that did the heavy lifting (figuratively). Oxen, directed by teamsters, hauled the rocks to build miles of stone walls. The oxen pulled plows to cultivate the fields, dragged logs for firewood, and cleared land for roads.
Only one pair of oxen lives on the island today, but they're more pasture ornaments than beasts of burden. Each year, teams are imported from New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island to compete at the Agricultural Fair. Of local talent, there is none.

My self-assigned mission is to change that. I aim to build teams of island kids and calves to compete at next year’s fair. How do we do that while living in New Hampshire? 

Here’s how:
With an island truck and living arrangements set, Bruce and I will teach the kids and bring others to help. Next, we needed recruits – human and bovine. Five kids signed up days after the 4H club enrollment opened. Grey Barn & Farm, an island dairy, agreed to lend us some calves and provide a secure training space (no need to have escaped calves running down State Road).

Next, we needed equipment. Martha's Vineyard Agriculture Society let us borrow some yokes left over from the heyday of the ox. The yokes are sound but need sanding and oiling. Josh, a 4H dad, has rehabbed one of them. We bought new pins at a hardware store, and now one yoke is ready to use — two more to go.
Trainers, kids, calves, and equipment -- we're ready to rock ‘n’ roll.

Carole Buys Two Island Steers

I bought the perfect pair of Devon/Holstein calves for my team from Mermaid Farm, another island dairy. I named them Pop and Corn and delivered them to talented trainer Cicilio, who taught his steer to pull him about the island in a cart. He’ll train my pair, teach me his techniques, and help guide the 4H kids.

Last weekend, at the Martha's Vineyard October Festival, the 4H kids dressed three Grey Barn calves in Halloween costumes. It all went well, except Mac the calf didn't like his dragon wings, so he lay on the ground and wouldn't move until his handler, Wren, dressed as an elf, coaxed him back onto his feet. His heart wasn’t in it, so the islanders won’t see him trick-or-treating this year.

Pumpkin Smashing...Again

And speaking of treats, why not bring your used Halloween pumpkins to Miles Smith Farm on Saturday, Nov. 4? You can smash them and feed the bits to our pumpkin-loving cattle. It's great exercise, and the cows will be your new best friends.
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Carole Soule is co-owner of Miles Smith Farm, where she raises and sells pork, raw milk, eggs, and beef. She can be reached at carole@soulecoaching.com. Visitors are welcome to smash pumpkins on Saturday, November 4, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Bring your own pumpkins or smash ours. Find us at 55 Whitehouse Rd., Loudon, NH.

At the Martha's Vineyard October Festival, Charlotte, dressed as security guard, turned her calf, Cheese, into a pop star complete with a microphone tucked in his halter. Cheese is one of twelve calves in the new Martha Vineyard's 4H working-steer program.