October 2009 Meeting

The October meeting of the Ozarks Draft Horse Association was held on Saturday, October 24, 2009, at 1:00 PM at the home of Al and Kirsten Kosinski. An incredible turnout of seventeen people bringing potluck dishes for lunch created a wonderful ambiance as we ate and visited in the back yard.

President Dennis Goodall brought the meeting to order and welcomed all the members and guests. Attendees introduced themselves and stated what kinds of draft animals and experience each had. In the club, we have a broad range of membership, all the way from decades of driving experience to rookies who have only a few hours behind a team.

The following topics were discussed:

The name of the organization - Due to the history of the current name, changing it was discussed. There is interest in Ozark Heritage Draft Club, Ozark Heritage Draught Association, and Ozark Heritage Drovers Club. On the wisdom of Doc Weatherford, the topic was tabled for future discussion.

Future plans - It is hoped that the club will be able to host classes in hitching a team for members who have less experience, as well as the public. A driving school was discussed.
Long term goals include an online store.

The club has a Neck Yoke and Doubletree available for sale.

The Thomasville School facility is available for use by the club for future events.

There is currently no bank account for the organization, although many people have paid their dues. The account for the previous organization was closed, and a balance of $56 is being held by the former secretary. Plans were discussed for opening a new account as soon as possible. Thayer Bank was suggested for convenience, as it has branches in many area towns.

Donna Coomer of Back40Books.com presented information about this organization and its sister companies, KWBC.fm, and Back40forums.com. Back40Books offers a wide range of publications about homesteading, gardening, sustainable agriculture, animal husbandry, and other topics of interest to rural residents. The radio station is available online. The forum offers an internet community for discussion of a wide range of topics.

Links:
http://www.back40books.com/
http://kwbc.fm/
http://www.back40forums.com/

After the meeting, Kirsten and Al led tours of their farm.