STEERS AND OXEN 2017 In 2017, Fryeburg Fair witnessed and captured by photography, what could be the world s largest assembly of yoked steers and oxen. The photography took place in October on the grounds of the Fryeburg Fair. An arial lift was used to take the photos as well as one of those new fangled drones. The count determined that 159 teams of steers and oxen participated in the event with each pair handled by a teamster. It should be noted that there were additional teams in the barns that could not participate since their owners might already be out on the fairgrounds with the teams where the photo was being taken.
Cattle have long been used in the world as a means of transportation as well as for work in the fields and woods. The cattle are male bulls and are neutered at an early age. Up to the age of 4 they are classified as steers. Once they are 4 years or older they are classified as oxen. The usual configuration for the steer or oxen is as a pair although single and triple teams can exist. The animals are attached to a wooden yoke containing a ring in the center to which a chain or pole can be attached to the apparatus of choice. Working cattle are used to pull carts, plows, scoots, sleds or stone boats (a metal sled) all of which can be used on the farm, in the woods and competitions.
The yokes used in Canada and Europe are primarily head yokes and are strapped directly to the animals horns.
The yokes in the United States are neck yokes which rest on the animals necks.
The neck yoke style became the most favored when the animals were used to pull Conestoga wagons across America. The head yolk was too restrictive and did not allow the teams to easily graze so the neck style became adopted as the preferred yoke. As the team ages and grows, larger yokes and bows are made to accommodate the size of the animals. The bows are u-shaped and fit under the animal s neck, connecting to the yoke and are secured with a pin. The yokes are measured from the center of one side of the bow to the center of the other side of the bow.
A team may have worn up to 6 different sized yokes by the time they are full grown. A fully grown ox can weigh as much as 3000 pounds resulting in a team that weighs 6000 pounds. In 2017 the heaviest pair of show oxen was 5076 pounds and the largest single ox was 2548. It is said that a pair of oxen can pull twice the load that the same sized pair of horses can pull. The teams are used on the farm for various farm work such as pulling a plow, other farming equipment or used in the woods more sustainably to pull scoots (sleds) containing felled logs.
The tradition of steer and oxen coming to the fairs came about as the teamsters joined together in the late summer and fall to present their cattle in competitions and garner bragging rights for best pair, best matched, best working and best pulling.
Teamsters can be of any age or gender with some starting as young as 7 or 8 years old.
The youngsters often start off with a new pair of young calves and spend many hours training them to the following standard verbal commands: Whoa = stop Haw = turn left Gee = turn right Back up Come up = come forward Step to the side = put in or put out The tools of the trade other than the yoke and bows includes a Goad stick. The Goad stick is about 4 feet long, made of wood, usually taped and along with voice commands is used to help direct the team.
Come and see over 100 pairs of steers and oxen where they will be demonstrating, working or pulling at the Fryeburg Fair in the many events scheduled for them. In 2017 there were over 13 breeds represented: Holstein, Devon, Shorthorn, Swiss, Randall, Hereford, Linebacker, Jersey, Normandy, Chianina, Dutch Belt, Dexter, Ayrshire and many other crossbreeds. You will also see multi generations of teamsters where grandparents, their children and grandchildren from the same families are participating. The teamsters who love and care for these animals will be happy to answer any of your questions. On Monday the fair hosts a yoking demonstration of steers and oxen where you can see all the different breeds up close and talk to the teamsters. The cattle can be seen in barns 4, 5, 15 and 16. See you at the FRYEBURG FAIR!!!!