In an oxen draw, teams of two oxen pull a weighted sledge (a "stone boat") a short course, with weight added between rounds until only the strongest teams remain. It descends from working farm competitions that once tested real plow and haul teams, and it is judged as much on the drivers' handling as the animals' raw strength.
Oxen draws (often paired with horse draws on the same schedule) are a staple grandstand event at Connecticut's traditional agricultural fairs, usually run as a timed program rather than something ongoing throughout the day.
