OXFORD — This year, it’s all about getting dirty.

The Oxford County Fair, which opens Wednesday, Sept. 16, and runs through Saturday, Sept. 19, will feature its annual Agricultural and Conservation Education Day from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Wednesday.

At least 700 home-schooled, public, private and charter school students from across Oxford County are expected to participate in learning activities that reinforce Oxford County’s agricultural roots.

Each year, the Oxford County Soil and Water Conservation District picks a theme. This year’s is “It’s All in the Soil,” to coincide with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s  International Year of Soils.

It will feature more than 45 areas where children can see demonstrations, visit exhibits, do hands-on activities, hear stories and take free wagon rides, Jean Federico, education and outreach coordinator of the conservation district, said. Highlights include a photo opportunity with Jeff’s Moose Antlers, gem mining and digging through a hole to explore different layers of soil.

“Kids will be going in and seeing different layers. They’ll get their hands dirty,” Federico said.

She said the conservation district works with the school district to satisfy the state’s Learning Results requirements in demonstrations that focus on science, math and social studies. Maine’s Learning Results outline what students should know and be able to do in all eight subject areas defined by state statute, according to the Maine Department of Education.

“(Students) all get packets with questions that have to meet educational goals,” Federico said.

Presenters at the fair will provide students time to mine for gems, make corn-husk dolls and learn about forestry, aquatic life and composting, among other demonstrations.

Federico said 15 to 17 students from Oxford Hills Christian Academy School in South Paris will assist her Wednesday by running presentations and games, photographing the events and other activities. She will give them a brief outline of their duties for them to research and prepare for their roles.

For example, she said, at the How Long Does it Take to Decompose station, students will need to gather the materials, such as a glass bottle, some monofilament fish line, a disposable diaper, leather, a plastic bag and a banana peel.

“The object of the exercise is to have the students match the item with the number of years the items takes to decompose,” Federico said.

She said it is very important for students to do research. When they do, they may be surprised that the monofilament fishing line takes approximately 600 years to decompose.

“(Research) will help them feel more comfortable with their presentation,” Federico said. “It’s rewarding to see them learn and gain confidence in the subject matter. Last year, I nudged a few of them out of their comfort zones and they did a wonderful job.”

Students attending the sessions enjoy having the lesson done by someone closer to them in age, she said. It’s “mentoring at its finest.”

Children must preregister to receive educational materials. For more information, or to register a student for this event, call the Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District at 207-743-5789 ext. 111 or email oxfordcountyswcd@gmail.com. 

The event is open to all public, private and home-schooled children from prekindergarten through fourth grade in Oxford County.

ldixon@sunmediagroup.net