COLLINGWOOD – Area students got out of the classroom Friday to experience life on the farm first-hand.

Approximately 900 Grade 3 and 7 students from schools in the region, and lifeskill students from Stayner CI and Collingwood CI went on a field trip to the Great Northern Exhibition for Education Day.

The students had the opportunity to participate in 14 different stations, including cow milking, sheep shearing, cooking demonstrations, and singing farm-related songs.

“The day has been going well, students have smiles on their faces and the weather has been holding,” said Kathy Lemon, the Education Day associate director.

Lemon said the day was busy, co-ordinating three different arrival times starting at 9:15 a.m.

Birchview Dunes teacher Clinton Brooks, who brought his Grade 3 class to the GNE, said he hopes students learn the difference between the urban and rural settings.

“There are a lot (who) don't get to experience things on a farm, so they get to see a lot of things that they wouldn't normally see, and they learn quite a bit about where the food that they eat every day comes from,” he said.

Brooks said his students enjoyed watching the sheep shearing.

Sheep Shearer Don Metheral said he has been providing demonstration at the GNE for 30 years.

Metheral said the students are excited to watch a sheep being sheared – a task he does in under two-minutes.

“It's always a great reaction because it is one of those dying arts that a lot of people don't see unless they come out to the farm, so we try to bring it here to the fair and have this day of education for the kids so they can say, 'yeah, I've seen a sheep being sheared’,” he said.

Cattle farmer David Millsap said he thinks the day is important to help educate students about the importance of agriculture.

He hosted a question and answer session with the students about beef cattle.

Millsap said it appeared the students enjoyed themselves.

“I have one child of my own here today and they are always excited to come to the GNE and see all the animals and activities going on,” he said.

The GNE is open to the public until Sunday. More information is available at http://www.greatnorthernex.com.