Long after the tractor took away their work, oxen still dot the farms of Lunenburg county in Nova Scotia. These gentle giants were once the source of power that worked the land and forests in this part of the province. Oxen aren't known for their speed, but their quiet nature, and sure-footedness, made them better suited than horses to the woods and stony soil along the south shore.

Today there are probably about 100 ox teams in Lunenburg county and if there is a grandfatherly champion of them it’s Gordon Lohnes. He’s been around oxen for most of his 74 years and counts himself among a very small number of people still making ox yokes. Most of the oxen around today are kept as a hobby. Only a few teams like Gordon’s do much work. Like Wendell Wagner who makes his living as a logger often using his team of oxen. Woodlot owners who want to avoid the destruction heavy equipment can cause in the forest, call on Wendel. They like the way oxen take their time causing very little damage to the surrounding area.

However, even those who raise oxen as a hobby have a chance to work them out at exhibitions where teams compete with each other to see whose animals can pull the heaviest load. One of the exciting competitions is the South Shore Exhibition . It’s an opportunity for the proud owners to show off their oxen teams’ strength, training and finery.

There are challenges facing the future of oxen teams for the skills needed to keep them working are slowly disappearing. However, Land and Sea meets a 12 year old who is already enamoured with the gentle creatures. The hope is that more young people like him will emerge to keep the proud tradition alive in Lunenburg County.

Suggested link: http://museum.gov.ns.ca/rfm/