The Northeast Livestock Expo is here again!

May 11, 2015

Over 1,200 K-6th graders will be part of this year?s Kid?s Day

WINDSOR ? The tenth Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE) will take place May 15-17 in Windsor, Maine. Thanks to a Maine AG in the Classroom transportation grant, on Kid?s Day (Friday, May 15), more than 1,200 K-6 students will have their classroom at the Windsor Fairgrounds. They will experience thirty agricultural presentations put on by farmers and industry volunteers. This three-day livestock event will showcase beef and dairy cattle, sheep, goats and rabbits.

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 similar 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 continues to grow every year. The popular ?Kid?s Day? will have over 1,200 K-6 students learning about proper care of farm animals and becoming more informed consumers,? said Whitcomb. ?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 15 (10 a.m. ? 2 p.m.), is Kid?s Day.

Activities & Displays currently scheduled include:

?Bugs and how they affect trees in agriculture - 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 give demonstrations about harnessing a horse and twitching logs.

Beef - The Maine Beef Producers will be sorting feeder calves ranging in age from five months to a year. 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 to explain the commands used to work the oxen and how he uses them on his farm.

Poultry ? Tom Nelson of New Sharon 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.

Dairy Cow ? Oakie the Oakhurst Acorn will be on hand to guide the groups to the dairy cow exhibit. Maine Dairy Princess Kaicy Conant will a milking cow there and explain how a cow is milked and the process the milk goes through in the milking parlor to be prepared for transport to Oakhurst Dairy.

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.

Cow ? Dr. Beth McEvoy will have two Brown Swiss steers; one will have a skeleton painted on his coat, the other his internal organs. She will go over the various bones of the cow and what helps him to stand and move and how food moves through their many stomachs. Dr. McEvoy is the assistant State Veterinarian for the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

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. They will explain what ?fitting? is.

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

Smokey Bear - will be on hand at lunch for classroom photos.

Boer Goats ? Boer goat moms will be on hand to show off their baby goats.

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

Bees ? The Knox Lincoln County Beekeepers (KLCB) 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.

Alpacas ? Red Laliberte of Misty Meadows Farm will have four alpaca on hand to explain how their fiber (hair) is turned into clothing and the many uses of the animals.

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. There will be a touch tank teeming with live shellfish, including oysters, mussels, sea urchins and scallops, plus some of the predators that impact sea farms such as sea stars, crabs, and more.

Tennessee Walking Horses ? 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. will have Ready Freddy on hand to explore what goes into an emergency preparedness kit. Disasters can happen at any time.

Note: Activities may be subject to change.

Saturday, May 16 ? Features the feeder calf sale, goat sale, goat show, youth shows and clinics, and educational seminars for sheep, goats and poultry.

Sunday, May 17 ? Features a working steer field day and youth shows and clinics. There will be food vendors and commercial exhibitors on the grounds as well.

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

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

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