Rural Heritage April/May 2026

VOLUME 51

APRIL/MAY 2026

NUMBER 2

Departments

Editor/Publisher Joe Mischka editor@ruralheritage.com Advertising ad@ruralheritage.com Editing Susan Blocker Subscriber Services subscribe@ruralheritage.com Regular Contributors

5 Publisher's Post 60 J.C. Allen Archives 80 Rural Bookshelf 82 Calendar of Events

85 Associations 90 My Card 95 Breeder's Directory 97 RH on YouTube

Rob Collins Ralph J. Rice Anna Knapp-Peck Donn Hewes Jerry Hicks Mary Osmer

RURAL HERITAGE ™ (ISSN 0889-2970) is published bimonthly. Periodical postage is paid at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and additional mailing offices. ©2026 Mischka Press. All rights reserved; reproduction of any material in this publication without written permission is prohibited. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $34.95 for one year in the USA and possessions; US$58.00 for one year in Canada, US$83.00 overseas. POSTMASTER send PS Form 3579 to: RURAL HERITAGE PO Box 1096 Cedar Rapids IA 52406-3323 CONTRIBUTORS: We welcome manuscripts, photographs, and drawings for possible publication. Email submissions are preferred. Guidelines are available on our website. Rural Heritage 2907 Applewood Pl NE Cedar Rapids IA 52402-3323 (319) 362-3027 www.ruralheritage.com To subscribe to the digital edition, call 319-362-3027 or visit www.ruralheritage.com.

3 Cover Photo: Mary Osmer and Bella Tolosi demonstrating how to yoke a pair of steers at a University of New Hampshire animal handling and behavior class. Above: Mary teaches class participants the commands for driving a team of steers while pulling a tire. Features 8 The Open Bridle for Work Horses............................... Donn Hewes 13 A Bridle/Halter for Safety............................................ Donn Hewes 16 German Fellowship........................................................ Rob Collins 24 Bioavailable Water. ............................................. Jenifer Morrissey 34 Socializing Young Working Steers.............................. Mary Osmer 40 The un-forgotten Farmers of the Chars Part 1........... Paul Schmit 48 Florida Cracker Cattle........................................................ Les O’dell 50 Sixteen Mule Hitch......................................................... Joe Mischka Extra pages and videos on this story are on the digital edition. 52 The Smoke House............................................................. Jerry Hicks 54 An Unlikely Journey............................................ Anna Knapp-Peck 64 Draft Animal Power NETwork........................... Anna Knapp-Peck 66 The Corn Crops (1919 Reprint) ..............................C.B. Hutchison

April/May 2026