Meet Mike and Joe, our gentle giants. Before tractors and other engine-driven machinery were developed, Oxen were important powerhouses of the early American farms and communities. Oxen could pull heavy loads with a steady, deliberate force. Additionally, oxen were considered easier and less expensive to own than horses, in part because they did not require grain or high quality hay.

And so in our country’s early history, pairs of oxen were a common sight pulling ploughs and wagons,

dragging logs, and involved in other hard labor. They were directly involved in the construction of many of New England’s oldest structures.

But what happens when oxen are no longer required to provide the power, or are not deemed to have the best breeding potential? Both then and now, they are generally fattened and slaughtered for beef.

This would have been the fate for Mike and Joe, but their former owner could not think of destroying such magnificent beasts. Instead, the two have found a permanent retirement residence at Ray of Light Farm. They are impressive pair who not only provide a serene welcome at the gates of the farm, they are also a wonderful reminder or our nation’s agricultural heritage.

Come and see Mike and Joe at the farm! We're open every day except Wednesday from 10:00-3:00.

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