The Northeast Livestock Expo starts Friday!

May 17, 2016

For more information contact: Cindy Kilgore at: 207-215-4968

Close to 1,000 K-6th graders will participate in Kid?s Day

WINDSOR ? The eleventh Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE) will take place May 20-22 in Windsor, Maine. A Maine AG in the Classroom transportation grant will allow 21 busloads of students from 10 schools to take part in Kid?s Day (Friday, May 20). Close to 1,000 K-6 students will have their classroom at the Windsor Fairgrounds. Students will experience first-hand, thirty-four agricultural presentations put on by farmers and industry volunteers. This three-day livestock event will showcase beef and dairy cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits and many science-related activities.

The public is welcome to all events, admission is FREE.

?This is a great opportunity for kids to learn about Maine agriculture,? said Governor Paul R. LePage. ?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 Northeast Livestock Expo?s ?Kid?s Day? will help K-6 students learn about proper care of many different types of animals, ? said Whitcomb. ?NELE ?Kid?s Day? makes science fun. There will be youth events and educational seminars also occurring on Saturday and Sunday. Many future agricultural leaders will be in Windsor this weekend.?

Schedule:

Friday, May 20 ? Kid?s Day (10 a.m. ? 2 p.m.)

Activities & Displays currently scheduled include: 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 one -hour demonstrations, troopers will be on hand to answer questions.

?Insects on the Farm? - Insects are mostly helpful, sometimes harmful, and always fascinating! Presentation will explore where insects live and why they are important to people, farms, food and the environment. Kathy Murray ? Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

?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.

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

Beef - In a QUIET AREA, the Maine Beef Producers will be sorting feeder calves ranging in age from five months to a year. The animals will each be given a nasal vaccination, weighed and then moved into pen to stay for the evening. They will be provided with hay and water, and will be sold the following day at an auction.

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 ? Dan Jordan of Hiram will bring two oxen. Dan will explain the commands used to work the oxen and how he uses them on the farm.

Poultry ? Scott DeMoranville will bring some of his chickens to show how they are held, exhibited and fed and explain their multiple uses to the industry.

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.

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

Swine ? Mike 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 1,400 packaged cheeses to be handed out by the Mobile Milking Parlor . Jami Badershall will handle the milking parlor, cheese and dairy princesses.

Tractors - Hammond Tractor will have machinery on site and will go over the basics of tractor safety.

Rabbits ? Michaele Bailey will have rabbits available to show how they are held, fed and their fiber (hair) is used to make clothing.

Horse ? Dr. Beth McEvoy, veterinarian, will have her Hanovarian horse, Liam on display with his skeleton painted on his coat. She will go over the various bones of the horse and what helps him to stand and move. Beth works with Dover-Foxcroft Veterinary Clinic.

Ambulance ? Delta Ambulance will have a unit on site to allow youth to see the inside and learn what the paramedics do, all without the stress of an actual emergency.

Dairy heifer ? Lexie and Lizie Dumont of Albion will be fitting their dairy heifer. What is ?fitting?? Stop by and find out.

Sheep ? Donna Flint of Oak Ridge Farm in Sanford will have Tunis sheep on display for questions and answers.

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

Boer Goats ? Boer goat moms will be 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.

Belted Galloway ? Andy LeMaistre of Mitchell Ledge Farm in Freeport will be on hand with his yearling beef calf heifer, 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.

Llama ? Hilary Ware of Hill and Gully Farm and Becky Smith will demonstrate how llamas go through an obstacle course. She will also go over how to work with the animals.

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.

Sea Farming in Maine ? Dr. Anne Langston, Aquaculture Research Institute, University of Maine will talk about farming-in-the-sea in Maine, the importance of farmed sea animals in our everyday lives and about our fascinating marine life. The touch tank is teeming with live shellfish that are farmed in Maine including oysters, mussels, sea urchins and scallops, plus some of the predators that impact sea farms such as sea stars, crabs, and more.

Tennessee Walkers ? Bob Morin of Oak Barrel Farm will bring his two Tennessee Walkers and give a brief description and explanation of the history of Tennessee Walkers. He will also speak about how they are used in many events including Hollywood.

Composting ? Diane Schivera from the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners will discuss the uses of manure and how it can be turned into fertilizer for growing vegetables, plants and hay for animals.

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.

Pogo from Friends Folly Farm - will have her fiber goats and dairy goats on hand to answer questions. The fiber goats can be harnessed and pull a cart.

Draft ponies ? George Merrill will have his draft ponies on hand to show how their manes and tails are braided for exhibition and how they are harnessed.

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.

Dottie Bell of Thunder Hill Farm, LLC ? will have some yearling Highland calves on exhibit. They are known for their long hairy coats which enables them to withstand Maine winters.

Weather 101 - Adam Epstein of Channel 13 will talk about weather and how it affects agriculture.

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

For information on the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, go to: http://www.maine.gov/dacf/