The Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum volunteers hosted a group of Bowdoin College freshmen this past week. Allen Delong, Bowdoin faculty member has been accompanying students to The County for the past 10 years.
This program is part of the freshman orientation event. Forty-five groups are dispersed throughout the state to experience a variety of lifestyles, agriculture, tourist attractions and Maine landscapes. Some students experience coastal areas while others hike mountains, white water raft or do community service. The students who came to Aroostook came from throughout the United States, England and China.
The group of 18 students arrived on Wednesday and toured the various buildings at the museum, learning about the development and operation of the facility and seeing the collection of farming equipment and furnishings common to farm families. They learned about the culture and lifestyle of residents of Aroostook County and how a group of interested community members have preserved a former way of life.
While here, the students camp at Wilderness Pines Campground in Monticello. On Thursday morning, the students were divided into two groups. One group went to the agricultural farm at Presque Isle High School, where they experienced driving tractors and picking a variety of fruits and vegetables. They enjoyed learning about the agricultural program that is part of the high school curriculum and the operation of the year-round Farm Store.
The remaining group returned to the museum where they helped wash windows, edge around trees, cleaned cupboards, washed tables and chairs and set them up for an upcoming museum supper. They also painted a ramp and steps at the Ross School.
In the afternoon both groups toured the wind farm in Mars Hill and a hops farm in Westfield. On Friday they all worked at the Catholic Charities Monticello store and in the afternoon watched a basket-making demonstration with Richard Silliboy in Littleton.
Each evening was spent touring the Houlton area, visiting local dairy bars, candy shops and other businesses.
Accompanying the freshmen were four upperclassmen, known as group leaders. One of them, Sophie Sadovinikoff from Waltham, Mass., spent her freshman trip along the Maine Coast, so coming to Aroostook County was very different. To be a group leader, students must apply, be interviewed and then selected. They participate in three days of training, before heading out with their group, transporting them in a Bowdoin van. The school provides food supplies for meals at the campground and funds to purchase what they need for fresh food at local stores.
As a group leader, Sadovinikoff said that she had enjoyed the experience so far. Following the tour she felt that she had a better understanding of the way of life here in this area. She had never heard of the community of Littleton, but after meeting with Delong, she was given a lot of the history and how important agriculture was to the area. It is a very different lifestyle than she is accustomed to.
The group found out first-hand what it is like to come from a small community where everyone knows everyone. Shortly after their arrival they discovered that the culvert at the entrance to the road into the campground was being replaced and they were directed to take a detour. They ended up on a farm road and mired in a field of oats. They felt quite isolated and at a loss in what to do. Luckily they had cell phone coverage and contacted Delong who was not too far away visiting his mother, Jeannette. He then made a couple of calls and within no time help was on the way.
Justin Patel, a freshman from Livingston, New Jersey chose the museum trip because he likes old stuff and doing community service. He was impressed with the early farmers who crafted some of their own tools to meet their needs. He loved the spacious farmland and the experience of camping.
Alex Banbury, ventured to Bowdoin from Mercer Island, Washington. He is interested in agriculture and history. He wants to learn more about farming. Banbury is concerned about the disappearing farmland and is looking forward to his time in Maine.
While the students were working at the museum, Rob Nesbitt of Portland’s Channel 2 news team interviewed several of the students, Delong and volunteers from the museum for a future segment on the 207 show featured at 7 p.m. week nights. Nesbitt grew up in Hodgdon and comes back when possible to visit his parents.
Volunteers helping with the students were: Museum president, Francis Fitzpatrick, Nancy Wright, Rae Johnston, Barbara Brown, Jennifer Metzger, Toni Eppley, Paul Klein, George Smith and Karen Donato.
