Mothers Day visitors flock to Musk Ox farm to see new arrivals

PALMER — More than 2,500 people spent their Mothers Day admiring motherhood in the animal kingdom. Xenon and Argon were born April 26 and 27 and are the newest members of the Musk-Ox Farm on Archie Road in Palmer. The farm offered scheduled tours throughout the winter, but as it has done since 1986, opened up to the public on Mother’s Day to show the wonder of the creatures called ‘oomingmak’ by Alaska natives.

“There’s nothing cuter than a baby Musk Oxen,” said Austin.

Mark Austin has worked at the Musk Ox Farm for eight years. Over that time he has overseen the growth of the farm, it’s property and animals. The herd of Musk-Ox is the healthiest it has been in some time.

“We’ve had generations of people that came with their parents that bring their grandkids,” said Austin of the Mother’s Day festivities.

Austin says that the farm has the capacity to breed much more, but focuses on quality of the herd rather than quantity. Austin says they always want to maintain a breeding program but have no desire to grow the herd beyond what it is now. Two females have lived to 24 years old and a male is aged 21 years, an astounding display of longevity for Musk Oxen. Austin says no one he works with has ever seen a male live past its teens.

“Over the past eight years we’ve completely revisited all the protocols and refined our animal handling and approach,” said Austin. “We place a huge emphasis on gentle and stress-free agriculture and reducing stress. We have a highly tractable herd used to being handled. We provide the best of what every animal may need on the farm.”

Over the past six years, staff has put in 12 miles of fence which allows them to get Musk Ox on and off the range rapidly. Austin says the three priorities at the Musk Ox farm are to educate, domesticate, and provide economic opportunity. The Musk Ox farm has applied for three grants and hopes to be awarded the rest of the 1.25 million required to renovate the original Colony barn.

“Once that barn is renovated we will have a year round warmed classroom, studio, and workshop space to offer programming year round,” Austin said. “It’s a really big project and really exciting step forward.”

20,000 people each year visit the Musk Ox farm to learn more about these amazing animals. Mothers Day is just the kick-off celebration for the year of learning and demonstration about how the animals live and what their fur can be used for.

“It’s one of nature’s most perfect natural fibers. It is eight times warmer than wool by weight,” Austin said. “It is incredibly soft and fine, it traps air which keeps it so warm. The smooth fiber lacks scales and barbs which is what makes it felt and shrink when you wash it. It’s a solid cored fiber and it’s extremely rare so people living in communities where fiber is available have benefit from it.”

Austin said he helped a woman in rural Alaska harvest 31 pounds of fiber which became 27 pounds of yarn. Austin valued the yarn at $70,000. He says he has been active in helping those with natural availability to the fiber help to use it, from those near herds to those who pick it up off the tundra. He is helping people learn more and better ways to utilize the fiber without the agricultural component of the Musk Ox Farm.

Another part of the non-profit Musk Ox Farm is the summer concert series. Austin will bring in four local bands and four national traveling bands to offer live entertainment on the farm. From Denali Cooks to the Hope Social Club and traditional Irish music and Horseshoes and Hand Grenades will play at the Musk Ox Farm this summer. Austin encourages those interested to visit the website and find more information.