Blogs – Page 2 – Agricultural Museums

Working Reindeer in Sápmi, the Land of the Sámi

The Sámi are the indigenous peoples of Sápmi, a region stretching over the northern parts of Scandinavia (i.e. Finland, Sweden and Norway) and parts of the Kola Peninsula in Russia. Reindeer herding is one of their traditional livelihoods. Reindeer as cultural heritage Sámi cultural heritage relies to a large extent on the reindeer. The hunting-… Continue reading Working Reindeer in Sápmi, the Land of the Sámi

The Animal Power Behind the Vallus at Malagne

– Capucine, a jenny without equal, at Malagne, the ArcheoPark of Rochefort (Belgium). In the heart of the Rochefort countryside in the Province of Namur in Belgium, there is a little gem of nature and heritage interwoven: the site of the Malagne Gallo-Roman Villa, nestled in a green setting, where our visitors discover the remains and… Continue reading The Animal Power Behind the Vallus at Malagne

A Visit From The Veterinarian

In 1880, when cattle were commonly part of communities, most people seeing this image would probably have understood the story it tells. Today, since few people have exposure to cattle in any way, the details of the scene are easy to overlook without a little interpretation. There are two cattle in the picture, and one… Continue reading A Visit From The Veterinarian

The Political Symbolism of the Triple Yoke in Castile in the 15th-16th Century

Many agricultural implements have been elevated to the status of symbols, either as representatives of a social class or, as with a special type of yoke, as a symbol of an idea of political domination. Ferdinand II of Aragon (reign 1472-1516) chose a yoke for three animals as his personal emblem and, although it appeared… Continue reading The Political Symbolism of the Triple Yoke in Castile in the 15th-16th Century

The Most Historic Chicken You Never Heard Of

The Crèvecoeur chicken is among the oldest of the standard-bred fowls of France and the longest known French breed in the United Kingdom. The breed gets its name from the village of Crèvecœur en Auge in Normandy, France. “Crève Cœur” translates literally as “broken heart.” Editor’s Note: Jeannette is a connaisseur of the Crèvecoeur chicken… Continue reading The Most Historic Chicken You Never Heard Of

What a Difference a Decade Can Make

How bulls are getting shorter. When I started my role as the Director of the Canada Agriculture Museum (since renamed) in 2009, the definitive “rock star” in our bovine herd was Goody – a massive Hereford Bull. He was a mild-mannered giant that quietly amazed visitors with his impressive size in all aspects. Standing beside… Continue reading What a Difference a Decade Can Make

Childcare on Farms in the First Half of the 20th Century

Until the middle of the 20th century, children were an integral part of the farming economy from an early age. Their care by adults (parents, family members, farm labourers) and their learning and work were closely interlinked and could hardly be separated from each other in everyday life. The animals working on the farms, especially… Continue reading Childcare on Farms in the First Half of the 20th Century

A Hames Inquiry: Location? The Clues are in the Images

After nearly 70 years of “playing” with working horse material and non-material culture especially from the UK and Ireland, I like to think that I am reasonably experienced in identifying where photographs without a given provenance have been taken. For example, in the following photograph. The above photograph shows a three-horse team drawing a Ransomes… Continue reading A Hames Inquiry: Location? The Clues are in the Images

Dairy processes on a micro-farm in 21st-century Pennsylvania

For the past 40 years or so, a “house cow” has been a valued part of our family. We have had a series of seven cows of different breeds, including two Jerseys, three milking shorthorns, a shorthorn/ Holstein cross, and our current cow: a Jersey/ brown Swiss cross. Thanks to these marvelous animals, our family… Continue reading Dairy processes on a micro-farm in 21st-century Pennsylvania

Grand Messe des Bouviers du Monde

Le “Draft Cattle Symposium” au Laboratoire de Plein-Air Lauresham sur le Site UNESCO de l’Abbaye de Lorsch en Allemagne, 8-10 Mars 2024 Voir des vues aériennes et autres vidéos de la rencontre (Courtoisie Lauresham et Arbeitsgruppe Rinderanspannung) i Cette rencontre était le produit de convergences entre divers acteurs et réseaux intéressés par les bœufs de… Continue reading Grand Messe des Bouviers du Monde

World Milk Day 2024 AIMA Lecture Series

The International Association of Agricultural Museums is pleased to share the recording of WORLD MILK DAY – 1 June 2024 – available HERE. The program conveyed the importance of milk and dairy products for pastoralists across time and place. Program: Debra Reid, PhD, Curator of Agriculture and the Environment, The Henry Ford, Dearborn, Michigan, USA:… Continue reading World Milk Day 2024 AIMA Lecture Series

Filmjölk – The Swedish Yoghurt

In Sweden, many of us start the day with some yoghurt or fil for breakfast. The yoghurt and fil we eat nowadays is not the traditional homemade soured milk we ate before industrialization, but the products are closely related. Yoghurt as a product has only been produced in dairies in Sweden. In the time before… Continue reading Filmjölk – The Swedish Yoghurt

Networking for Draft Animals and Rare Breeds

We often mention the networks of members and friends that come together in the AIMA, many times in our past congresses, regularly by contributing to the newsletters and blog posts, or by giving advice to help us and…. our networking partners. This often makes for a feeling of a very small world, as well as… Continue reading Networking for Draft Animals and Rare Breeds