Retired Farmer Turns Oxen Into Business
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When Joe Fry retired from farming a few years ago, he started thinking about the oxen he once trained on the farm as a boy. He decided to "get into the business" again and has found a big local demand for the services of his perfectly matched pair of Jersey oxen.
Joe says he started training the Jersey steers almost from birth. He made the halters and bridles the animals use, as well as the straight bits. The yoke and neck pieces were also handmade to fit the team.
Joe says it takes lots of time and personal attention to train cattle from the day they are born. But if you don't spend the time, he cautions, your chances of having a well-behaved team are poor.
His team is very gentle and noise from cars, trucks or even crowds doesn't phase them. They start immediately on the command of "gidup" and stop on "whoa". They stand quietly when Joe visits with people they meet.
Since Joe hit the road with his oxen, he can't keep up with the requests he gets for their services at family reunions, company picnics, parades, and even for local advertising.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Joe Fry, 11707 C.R. 62, Middlebury, Ind. 46502 (ph 219 825-2503).
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Retired farmer turns oxen into business AG WORLD Ag World 10-5-20 When Joe Fry retired from farming a few years ago, he started thinking about the oxen he once trained on the farm as a boy. He decided to "get into the business" again and has found a big local demand for the services of his perfectly matched pair of Jersey oxen.
Joe says he started training the Jersey steers almost from birth. He made the halters and bridles the animals use, as well as the straight bits. The yoke and neck pieces were also handmade to fit the team.
Joe says it takes lots of time and personal attention to train cattle from the day they are born. But if you don't spend the time, he cautions, your chances of having a well-behaved team are poor.
His team is very gentle and noise from cars, trucks or even crowds doesn't phase them. They start immediately on the command of "gidup" and stop on "whoa". They stand quietly when Joe visits with people they meet.
Since Joe hit the road with his oxen, he can't keep up with the requests he gets for their services at family reunions, company picnics, parades, and even for local advertising.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Joe Fry, 11707 C.R. 62, Middlebury, Ind. 46502 (ph 219 825-2503).
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