OXFORD — Unpredictable weather was in the back of everyone’s mind, but this year’s Oxford Fair closed Saturday after four days of 4-H, family fun and entertainment.

The youth livestock exhibits and show are a main attraction to the fair. This year’s youth auction, held Friday morning, brought in $78,872. Kids from 4-H clubs from Oxford Hills and beyond brought their best, taking turns to show off their sheep, cattle and swine in the livestock ring.

Six-year-old Leah Brown from Norway, in her first year of 4-H, brought her ewe Buttercup. Brown had to wait while older kids went through their paces before the judge and used her time wisely, getting last minute advice on walking, turning and positioning Buttercup from fellow 4-Her Kiley Gavett of Bridgton.

Kylie Gavett of Bridgton, left, gives first-year 4-H competitor Leah Brown pointers on handling her sheep Buttercup before the pair went into the exhibition ring at the Oxford Fair Thursday. Nicole Carter / Advertiser Democrat

Gabrielle McAlister of Buckfield brought all five of her mini horses to the Oxford Fair. Thursday afternoon the herd lounged in their pens as McAlister brought them hay and fresh water.

McAlister bought her first mini, Bella, in 2018 and soon after acquired two more mares, Roxy and Destiny.

“I got into mini horses working at Roundabout Farm in Buckfield,” she said. “When I first got Bella, she was in with my goats and sheep and I felt bad she was the only mini. So that’s why I got Roxy and Destiny, who came as a pair.

“And then Honey was brought to me in September of 2021. Her previous owners were moving and she wasn’t able to go with, them so I took her in.”

Last year McAlister decided she wanted to raise a foal and bred Bella to a stallion owned by a family friend in Sumner. When little Champ was born in May, he brought some specialty to McAlister’s little herd. The colt carries highly desired “grulla” color genetics consisting of dorsal and withers stripes, gray coat and dark points.

McAlister showed Bella and Destiny during Wednesday conformation competitions and Saturday’s cart-driving event.

Tim Sims of West Paris led interactive presentations on western Maine’s mining tradition, using tailings provided by Western Maine Gems.

Sims would flush screen boxes of left-over soil from WMG’s mining operation in water and spread the cleaned material on flat surfaces, explaining to onlookers the different minerals occurring in Maine and their uses. He said feldspar, quartz and mica are common and tourmaline, Maine’s state mineral, is also prevalent.

Mica is used in the manufacture of composite counter tops as well as eye shadow make-up. Feldspar is found in eight colors and when ground up is the basis for making porcelain.

“Green is the most sought after color of tourmaline,” Sims said. “The more clear the grade of tourmaline, the better. Black tourmaline is common. I’ve also seen blue and watermelon. Watermelon tourmaline is pink on the outside and green in the middle. It’s beautiful stuff. Sometimes I’ll find little chunks of it in leftover tailings.”

Even a bucket of rocks can yield treasures. Tim Sims of West Paris led demonstrations in the Gem & Minerals Building at the Oxford Fair last week, educating fair-goers about the minerals mined in the western Maine mountains. Here he shows a bit of green tourmaline encased in a chunk of quartz. Nicole Carter / Advertiser Democrat

Sims calls his hobby “old time mining,” but refers people he meets in his educational travels to the source of his tailings, Dig Maine Gems in West Paris.

“Anyone who wants to learn more about minerals, these people will continue your education. They can take you to different mines so you can do it onsite. They’re really active in the Maine mining community.”

As Sims sorted through mineral material rinsed clear of dirt, a fingernail-sized piece of quarts revealed an embedded vein of green tourmaline. He picked out a small cylindrical piece of green tourmaline and a bit of mica containing tourmaline with a dark pink hue. Sims said he appreciates the energy he gets from working with minerals, a pastime he began sharing with his kids when the family moved to Western Maine.

“I like to see kids play in the dirt instead of on a tablet,” he said.

And what does Sims do with his bucket loads of tailings when he is finished analyzing their mineral contents? He uses them to reinforce his gravel driveway in a cycle of reusing and recycling.

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