SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – As we enter the final weekend of The Big E, Friday marks Harvest New England Day at the fairgrounds, giving farmers from across the region an opportunity to show off homemade products and even animals.
A good number of those animals can be seen at the Mallary Agricultural Complex.
“This local theme is really important to me because if people know their farmers, then they know where their food comes, and it becomes a good thing for the consumer. They know it’s right here,” On the Road Again Farm Owner Nancy Buddington told us.
Farmers as well as youngsters in 4-H programs had the opportunity to show off their animals and even promote the farming community.
Our Western Mass News crews witnessed exhibitors taking part in their respective shows with their animals.
“You have to start with washing your goat and shaving it, and getting it prepped for the show and trimming hooves, making sure it’s all ready,” Big E exhibitor Jessica Korzeniowski explained.
At its heart, The Big E is a fair based on agriculture.
On Friday, participating farms had their moment to gain support from all fairgoers with many farmers having dedicated their lives to supplying their communities with the best products.
“What I think is important about the goats is that they are really increasing their numbers because they’re smaller animals, so it’s easy for people to have backyard goats and be able to afford that, compared to some of the larger livestock,” 4-H leader Erin DeCoste told us.
As fairgoers gaze at all of the homegrown products and the beautiful animals, it’s an opportunity for farms to not only get the youngsters involved, but also promote their communities.
“We certainly network with a lot of folks who are happy to find the products that we raise locally. So, it definitely is valuable to us as a business as well as personally,” Sara Davis of Oak Hollow Livestock shared.
For some fairgoers, an occasion like this brings back memories as former 4-H participants themselves. A future that could make agriculture and The Big E continue to shine bright.
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