OXFORD — There will not be an Education Day at Oxford Fair this week, Oxford County Agricultural Society Treasurer Lance Bean announced Monday.

Bean said that early this year the society decided not to have Education Day because of  financially-strapped school districts, which pay for busing students to the Oxford fairgrounds.

Later, the society notified the Oxford County Soil and Water Conservation District, which coordinates the day’s activities, and Education Day was put back on the schedule.

Michele Windsor, SWCD program manager, said Monday that despite last-minute attempts to reinstate the program, the district does not have the three-month lead time it needs to coordinate it. Part of the program involves a scavenger hunt for students at stations set up on the fairgrounds.

That prompted the society to return to its original decision.

Education Day had been held for more than 20 years to teach children about agriculture. Activities included livestock demonstrations, yarn spinning, mineral mining and cider making.  Last year, teachers said they tied the demonstrations and activities into their curriculum.

Hundreds of students from Oxford County schools were bused to the fairgrounds for the day. The Oxford Hills School District had intended to send eight to 10 busloads of first-grade students this year.

“We’re not going. It’s as simple as that,” Superintendent Rick Colpitts said Monday afternoon.

Although disappointed that the event has been canceled and school officials were not consulted during the decision-making process, Colpitts said they are not writing off the event for future years.

For now, Colpitts said, teachers have to find a new way to integrate the lessons learned at the fair into their school curriculum.

Bean said late Monday afternoon that almost all the exhibitors the students would normally see at Education Day would be at the fair, starting Wednesday. He urged children, whether with their schools or not, to attend.

“Our whole mission is education,” said Bean of one of the oldest agricultural fairs in the state.

He said the society decided to let children 10 years and younger in for free on Community Day, which was Sunday, as a way to help bring cash-strapped people to the fair. Almost 6,000 people showed up. The day featured some 70 businesses and organizations promoting their products and services.

Last year, when children ages 6 to 12 paid $5 a ticket, about 3,051 showed up, he said. “That’s a 94 percent increase in business.”

“Every day is agricultural education day here,” Bean said.

Another change this year is eliminating Monday and Tuesday events because the society lost money when they tried it last year, Bean said. That means the fair will continue Wednesday through Saturday this week.

For a schedule of events go to: http://www.oxfordcountyfair.com/

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