Hundreds of area students attend Ag Day at the fair

FARMINGTON – Hundreds of elementary school students with their teachers and chaperones in tow, found plenty of entertaining education to be found during Agricultural/Environmental Day at the Farmington Fair on Monday.

For the 23rd year, the Franklin County Soil & Water Conservation District offered more than 20 stations that featured colorful displays, hands-on activities and free educational materials. In addition, the fairgrounds’ museums and other demonstration sites were open and in full operation for the young students to observe and learn.

According to Rosetta Thompson, the district’s executive director, 625 students from schools in Franklin and Somerset counties, along with about 30 who are home schooled and more than 100 teachers and chaperones, attended the half-day event this morning.

Students roamed from the Franklin County Agricultural Society’s museum, complete with members dressed in period costume, to the Western Maine Beekeeper Association’s table with a lineup of beekeeping experts who answered the many questions posed by the students.

Douglas Geis, 6, a student at Wilton’s GD Cushing School, asked beekeeper Leroy Cronkite how he was able to get the thousands of bees to go into the glassed-in bee observatory he was sitting next to. Cronkite explained he got started by purchasing a box of bees, putting them in and then he added a queen to complete the hive’s operation.

Of the thousands of bees working in a frenzied dance about the hive, Geis pointed to the one bee not moving. He asked if it was dead.

“Call the undertaker,” Cronkite replied.

Among the other collection of stations was Maine Forest Service Ranger Mark Rousseau’s talk on forest fire prevention.

“Who likes to play with matches,” Rousseau asked a group of young eager students standing around him.

Some silence followed and then Nathalie Benoit, 9, of Farmington, shook her head and said in a serious tone, “not me.”

Rousseau quizzed: “what’s a good way to make sure your campfire is out,” and Benoit advised  a “campfire stew,” should be made by stirring the ashes well with water. “You were here last year, weren’t you,” he said smiling at her. He then asked the students to raise their right hands and take the oath he gave them: “I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever play with matches or a lighter and if I ever see a kid stupid enough to do it, I will tell a grown-up.”