OXFORD - Hundreds of students from Oxford County schools spent Wednesday morning in an open-air classroom during Oxford Fair's annual Education Day.

"I got to lead the oxen," said an excited Victoria Crockett, a second-grade student from the Crescent Park School in Bethel, as she watched a pair of oxen twice as tall as she is being led off to a stall by their owner.

The event has been ongoing for almost 20 years and provides activities and demonstrations, such as mineral mining, weaving, oxen yoking and cider making, to teach youngsters about agriculture. But for educators, the fair provides a wide-open classroom of learning opportunities for their students.

Cynthia Mullen, a first-grade teacher in West Paris, said the activities support the first-grade science curriculum. "We talk about what a fair is and what they think they will be seeing here," said Mullen of the introduction the students receive before they head to the fair.

By visiting demonstrations and activities that tie into their science lessons, and demonstrations such as how to make apple cider and healthy foods, the students then take their knowledge back to the classroom where in the next few weeks they will write about their experiences. Combining pictures taken by Mullen with the children's writing, the class will then make a book about their day at the fair.

Second-grade students from Meroby School in Mexico read "Charlotte's Web" before going to the fair to understand about farm animals and farm life. When they return, they will use their experience in writing workshops, teacher Shelly Benedix said.

Anthony Frost, a second-grade student from Meroby School, said the best thing he saw at the fair was was a goat, "Cause they're small and colorful," he said.

Classmate Eli Stickney said he had been spending his time looking for animals. "I found a cow and a bull," he said beaming. Nasir White, another second-grade student, had two words for the cows, "They stink." His favorite were the black cows.

Students in grades six through eight from the Holy Savior School in Rumford went on a scavenger hunt at the fair looking for items such as three energy-saving items found in Maine before 1920 and different minerals in Maine as part of a science curriculum lesson, teacher Michelle Ladd said.

While the students were learning they were also having a great time. "I never want to do bull riding," proclaimed Sarah Rousseau, a third-grader from the Hartford-Sumner Elementary School.

On Thursday, the fair will honor senior citizens during the morning and veterans later in the evening with a special patriotic recognition of the anniversary of the Sept 11, 2001, terrorists attacks.

The fair runs through Saturday with entertainment, harness racing, agricultural events, bull riding and more.