OXFORD – Students from two area schools demonstrated their wood-cutting skills during Woodsman Day at the Oxford Fairgrounds on Friday.

Several dozen students from the forestry programs at the Oxford Hills Technical School in Paris and Region 9 School of Applied Technology in Mexico.

The morning activities highlighted the skills of several dozen forestry students in front of an appreciative group in the bleachers.

“We don’t want this to be a competition,” explained Oxford Hills Technical School teacher Brian Bean, who helped supervise the junior Woodsman Day events.

Senior class student Nick Sumner of the Mexico school 9 said the most difficult part of the demonstration was probably keeping the saw under control.

Bean said it was important that the students not look at the event as a competition, but rather as an opportunity to demonstrate their proficiency in making chain saw cuts and other skills. Although the student’s accuracy was measured and announced, there were no ribbons or prizes awarded because the intent was a demonstration, he said.

Although the event was for demonstration purposes only, Bean said the activity helps prepare those students who will be competing in the adult woodsman event at the fair in several years.

The 32nd annual woodsman events such as log-rolling, ax throwing and chain saw cutting continued later in the day with men and women from Maine and beyond competing.

Results of the woodsman events were not available from fair officials Friday night.

Althea Shaw of South Paris was the winner of Mom’s Apple Pie Contest.

The Miss Ag Gal contest, originally to be announced Friday evening, was canceled.

Friday also featured a goat show, an apple pie contest, pig scramble, live bull riding and the Hidden Heroes Among Us dedication.

The contest names 25 “Hidden Heroes” that were nominated from residents around the region.

The fair wraps up today, which is dedicated to the Hidden Heroes.

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