Author Bio

David is a small farm owner, husband, and father who balances a career in technology with a passion for sustainable agriculture. Running the farm is a family effort, with everyone pitching in to help with the vegetable gardens, pastured poultry, and small-scale CSA program, connecting neighbors directly with fresh, seasonal foods. A SARE grant through Purdue helped the family get into the world of oxen by providing training, networking, and funding. The family's growing herd of heritage American Milking Devon cattle are being raised as working animals on the farm and at historical events with plans to expand into dairy and beef production. David believes the effort of raising food pays off in flavor, nutrition, and the joy it brings to his customers. Presentation: Addressing Knowledge Gaps in Animal Traction: Despite not well studied within the sustainable agriculture research community, there is evidence that animal traction could be a regenerative power option for small farms. Animals cause minimal compaction, appreciate, and can regenerate. Fuel can be grown on farm, some animals are multi-purpose, and there is social benefit for those that interact with them. However, opportunities for aspiring teamsters to gain knowledge are limited. Extension materials and programming from public Universities are also not widely available. To help remedy these gaps an NCSARE partnership project was developed with three aspiring teamsters. This presentation will cover the planned project goals, what has been accomplished so far, what we have learned, and what is planned for the future.