For Immediate Release

May 14, 2018

Contact: Cindy Kilgore (207) 215-4968
                John Bott (207) 287-3156

Over 50 Events and 2,700 School Kids at to the Northeast Livestock Expo May 17!
Largest Ever Kid’s Day – Over 2,700 K-6th graders participating!

WINDSOR – The 13th Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE) will take place May 17-20 in Windsor, Maine. A Maine AG in the Classroom transportation grant, funded by the colorful agricultural license plate, will bring 60 busloads of students from 30 schools as well as homeschoolers to take part in Kid’s Day (Thursday, May 17). Over 2,700 K-6 students will experience class that day at the Windsor Fairgrounds through more than 50 agricultural events put on by farmers and industry volunteers.

The public is welcome to all events, admission is free. Youth events and educational seminars will also take place on Saturday and Sunday.

“Many of Maine’s future agricultural leaders will be at NELE’s ‘Kid’s Day’ this year,” said Governor Paul R. LePage. “More than 2,700 students will learn about Maine agriculture via a giant outdoor classroom, the Windsor Fairgrounds. This and other Maine agricultural events this summer and fall highlight the connection between local farms, local products and consumers.” 

Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner Walt Whitcomb highlighted the Expo’s educational component. “The NELE’s ‘Kid’s Day’ will give hundreds of Central Maine elementary students more than 50 educational ‘short courses’ located across 50 acres of the Windsor Fairgrounds,” said Whitcomb. “From bunnies to Smokey Bear, this huge outdoor classroom will feature dozens of live animals and many other memorable, hands-on educational experiences.”

This three-day livestock event will showcase beef and dairy cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits, poultry and many science-related activities.

Schedule:

Thursday, May 17 – Kid’s Day (9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.) 

Activities & Displays currently scheduled include:

Operation Game Thief – Maine Game Wardens will be on hand with their trailer to discuss the aspects of poaching wildlife in the State of Maine.

Weather 101 - Adam Epstein of Channel 13 will talk about weather and how it affects agriculture.  He will have the weather truck on site and will a bring a camera crew.

Maine State Police Troopers and their K9 partners will put on two demonstrations: 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. in the gazebo park area. Troopers Eric Verhille and G.J. Neagle with their K9 partners Clint and Draco will explain the backgrounds of the dogs, the training of the officers and show the dogs’ abilities. Outside of these two-hour demonstrations, the troopers will be on hand to answer questions.

“Be a Beetle Buster; Learn about invasive tree-killing beetles – how to recognize them, the damage they do to trees, and how to report them.." Karen Coluzzi – Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

Central Maine Power – Mark Hall and a coworker will have their safety city on display.

Steve Akeley – from Akeley Equine Dentistry in Damariscotta will show how he works on horse’s teeth at a 10:00am demonstration near the draft horses. Yes, horses need dentists too!

Draft horses - Teamster Pete Stratton will explain how they use the draft horses on the farm and in the woods. They will give demonstrations about harnessing a horse and twitching logs.

Yaks – Lokie Horn of Wooly & Grunt Farm in Pittston will have two young yaks on exhibit. He will explain the nature and uses of these amazing animals.

Horses - The Harness Racing Folks of Windsor Fair will have a mare and her two-week old foal on exhibition and explain the uses of the animals, how they are fed, exercised, harnessed and their work schedule.

Oxen – Alice Heinrich of Albion will bring her two Hereford oxen. She will explain the commands used to work the oxen and how they are used on the farm.

Mangalista pigs – Pete and Rob Dusoe from Green Bounty Farm in Albion will have several of these hair-covered pigs on display.

USDA APHIS Wildlife – Robin Dyer and Jesse Morris. Their exhibit will be about wildlife and how to resolve conflicts between wildlife and humans. We will have animal skulls and furs for identification and discuss rabies prevention, deterrents such as mechanical spiders for preventing woodpecker damage, and other techniques used to help people protect their gardens and property.

Sarah Perkins – from Ledgeway Farm will give short talks on how to make Goat Milk Soap - and why it’s good for you.

Poultry – Central Maine Poultry Fanciers will have chickens on exhibit and show the various eggs that they produce.

The folks of the Windsor Fair Historical Society will be on hand to explain the uses of the buildings and give tours of the old school house and blacksmith shop.

Brea Willette of Wicked Quail and Pork Farm will have an exhibit of Quail (game birds) and their eggs. They are very eager to answer all questions about them.

What do animals eat? Donna Coffin of University of Maine Cooperative Extension will explain how livestock eat and discuss their favorite foods.

Swine – Brittany Hemond from Hemond Farms in Minot will have several pigs on hands to show how they use their snouts to root up the ground and eat bugs, etc. Discussions will occur on the care and many uses of pigs from providing the food we eat to being used as natural ground clearers.

Cheese – Cabot Cheese is providing 1000 packaged cheeses to be handed out by the Mobile Milking Parlor. The dairy princesses will explain the workings of the mobile milking parlor.

Tractors – Hammond Tractor will have large tractors on site for exhibition.

Rabbits – Western Maine Rabbit Breeders Association will have rabbits available to show how they are held, fed and their fiber (hair) is used to make clothing.   

Dairy heifer – Lexie, Drake and Lizie Dumont of Albion and John Strout of Farmingdale will be fitting their dairy heifers. What is “fitting?” Stop by and find out.

Smokey Bear - will be driven around the parking lot during lunch to meet with kids. His escort will be Kent Nelson of the Maine Forest Service.

Oakie – from Oakhurst Dairy will be on hand to greet students and take part in the noon parade.

Boer Goats – Williams Romp and Stomp Acres farm will have mother Boer goats on hand to show off their baby goats.

Nigerian goats and their babies – will be on display with Pat Polley of Eliza Rek Farm on hand to explain their uses, feed and methods of containment.

Bees – The Kennebec Beekeepers Association will have an observation hive for participants to view live honey bees in a safe manner. They will explain the life stages and different types of bees located within a hive, as well as their duties. Hive components, tools, and protective gear will be on display and discussed.  

Sheep – Donna Flint of Oak Ridge Farm in Sanford will have various breeds of sheep on display for questions and answers.

Belted Galloway – Andy LeMaistre of Mitchell Ledge Farm in Freeport will be on hand with his Belted Galloways, who will be going to the fairs this summer to be shown. The Galloway cattle are often black and white and look like Oreo cookies.

4H Beef Cattle – Lauren Pride will be on hand to show off their 4H beef animals and explain how they take care of them and show them at the fairs.

Mobile Milking Parlor – will be open and on display. See how the milk is transferred from the cow to the bulk tank for cooling.

Ready Freddy - Rachel Lindsey of Maine VOAD, Inc. would like you to join Ready Freddy to explore what goes into an emergency preparedness kit. Disasters can happen at any time. Some things we just can't prevent but we can prepare. Let's get ready like Ready Freddy.

Sarah Littlefield from Wolfe’s Neck Farm will be on hand with Stonyfield’s truck to talk about yogurt and its many uses.

Trees – Mort Moesswilde and Kent Nelson, Foresters with the Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry will have samples of trees and explain the uses of their wood. He will also show how to count rings to determine the age of a tree.

Maple Syrup – Shelly Bacon of Bacon Farm in Sidney will discuss how sap comes from the maple tree and is turned into maple syrup and maple candy.

Spinning wheel – Ann Wishart will show how wool from sheep is spun to eventually be turned into products folks can wear such as mittens, hats, sweaters. There will also be a demonstration on felting.

Mike MacDonald of RMT Farms in Litchfield – will have emus and alpacas on display. He will discuss caring for the animals.

Construction equipment – Travis Benner from McGee Construction will have large construction equipment on display and will explain its various uses.

Disease prevention – Veterinarian, Rachal Fiske will discuss zoonotic diseases and will offer a hand washing challenge station with Glo-germ tools. Students will also be able to test their knowledge of zoonotic diseases and take home a prize for participating.

Manure – Diane Schivera of MOFGA will discuss its origins and use.

Dairy heifer - John Strout, a 4H youth from Farmingdale, will be on hand with his Guernsey heifer to explain the ins and outs of raising a young dairy calf.

Wild Blueberries / Peaches – Christine Bozak, who works with Maine Ag in the Classroom, will explain how blueberries and peaches are grown in the State of Maine.

Aquaculture – Anne Langston will have three tanks of creatures from the sea on exhibit.

Invasive Plants – Taking Over Habitat Near You

Invasive plants like Asiatic bittersweet and Japanese knotweed can take over woods and wetlands, choking out habitat for wildlife and helpful plants. Come see some invasive plants up close so you can be an invasive plant detective in your town and neighborhood. Fact cards will be available for teachers to take home.

“Wool and the White House”, join the Maine Sheep Breeders Association to learn presidential wooly good facts. EWE will have the opportunity to make a presidential wooly felted bracelet from wool roving, manufactured by one of the oldest business’ in Maine! A take home packet for teachers to use in the classroom full of sheep and wool facts and activities will be available, while supplies last.

Painted cows – Drs Beth McEvoy and Carolyn Hurwitz, veterinarians will have a pair of steers (boy cows) on which they will be painting the cow skeleton and internal organs. They will also have a bone table showing the bones of the cow.

Stone Fox Farm Creamery - will be on hand in the food area with their annual kids day special of $3.00 for one scoop and $5.00 for two scoops.

Activities may be subject to change    

More information can be obtained on the web at: http://www.northeastlivestockexpo.com/  

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