Remembering Buck

[Victoria Reck Barlow]

On April 3, Buck was laid to rest at the top of the knoll in his home pasture. In attendance were his brother Ike, along with new companions of the past month, Star and Bright, as well as four of Buck’s favorite two-leggers. Buck’s last experience was a big tub of doughnuts, his favorite food. His death was instantaneous.

Angels appeared during Buck’s final month, led by veterinary ophthalmologist Alan Bachrach of Petersham, MA. Dr Bachrach helped Buck gain free access to the veterinarians at Tufts University veterinary school. There, doctors determined that the squamous cell carcinoma that had developed in the tissue of Buck’s eye sockets had spread to the bones.

Our town of 7,300 has been grieving. Friends have left flowers at the pasture gate. The region’s newspaper, the Keene Sentinel, noted Buck’s passing in an article and editorial. Friends continue to stop at the pasture gate to acknowledge Buck’s absence. In early May, a 4′ square portrait of Buck will be presented to the local elementary school. Like all oxen, Buck was a big fan of education. He also loved children.

It would take too many words to describe all that Buck and Ike have done as ambassadors of open space protection. They made us appreciate our rural character. They helped us remember our roots. They softened our hearts. They pulled our town together.

Buck and Ike’s final adventure, “Remembering Buck,” has been posted on YouTube.

I am in search of a pasture companion for Ike, who is a 13-year-old 3,000-pound Simmental. Size and breed don’t matter — health and a sweet disposition are the only requirements. Swanzey is in the southwest corner of NH. The 20+ acre pasture is ox paradise.

[Carl Russell]

Sorry to hear, Virgina, thanks for letting us know. The empty space they leave is hard to fill, but I know from experience there is a lot of joy in the memories that reside there, I hope you can find solace in them.

Be well, Carl

[mother katherine]

My condolences to you and Ike. Hope you find him a companion soon as he wants.
Until an ox comes along, would a goat be somebody he could hang out with? I know horses often form friendships with goats as pasture pals
Mother Katherine

[bivol]

i’m sorry for your loss!

a wonder how much “simple” oxen can do and mean for a community!

and i hope Ike can handle it, despite his new company, they’ve been together all their lives and i know Ike can right feel Buck missing!

bone cancer is terrible, at least he died painlessly! it may be harsh, but at least he didn’t feel pain, that’s good!

[carter]

Sorry for your loss. He sounds like he has left a mighty big hole in your lives now.

It also sounds as though he was a lucky ox, to be so cared for, and appreciated during his lifetime.

[CharlyBonifaz]

you know, those two were the first oxen I came across when searching youtube for cattle videos years ago; he’ll be remembered!

[Rod]

Hi Victoria

Marilyn and I happened to be driving through Swanze yesterday and low and behold whom did we spot but Ike out grazing with two other oxen, looked like Devons. We stopped so I could tell my wife the store of Buck and Ike as I knew it from your posts and the u-tubes videos. It was a special excitement for me to see this huge and now becoming famous ox in person. What a special thing for your community to have had with these two brutes as citizens. You have to know them before you can understand how much they can contribute to your lives and in their case to the lives of Swanze folks also. Hopefully Ike can carry on without his missing companion.

[Vicki]

My condolences to you, Virginia, and to the townspeople of Swanze. Ike will miss his life-long partner and brother, but at least the younger oxen are there.

I very much enjoyed the YouTube videos of the boys, and your posts. You have proven again a truth I am sure of: that oxen have done and still do more to build communities and to benefit people–in various ways–than most people ever realize.

You are fortunate to have had a deep and delightful relationship with some remarkable bullocks, and I’m sure the good memories will endure after your loss.

[Author]

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