Fall Fair Memories: The Big E - Part 3 - Animals & Agriculture

     Welcome to the next chapter in my love letter to The Big E, New England's annual (except for this year) multi-state autumn festival. You can read the intro here and part two here.

This entry is dedicated to the agricultural side of The Big E. What fall festival would be complete without giant pumpkins, sheep shearing, and baby chicks?

There are locations throughout the fair to see animals and agriculture, with a whole schedule of events going on during the fair. The Coliseum building hosts livestock competitions, like ox cart pulling and various horse shows.

If you're into butter sculptures and cows, the Mallary Complex is the place to be, where you can watch milking demonstrations and learn about dairy production.

My favorite place for agricultural stuff is the Farm-A-Rama building, also known as the Stroh building. This is a must-see spot for anyone visiting The Big E. In this building, you can see a variety of animals up close, from tiny baby chicks to giant Clydesdale horses. 

   

   

     

  

There are a variety of competition entry displays here as well, many featuring children and teen participants, showcasing their award-winning efforts: aesthetically pleasing arrangements of locally-grown fruits and vegetables, landscaping design competitions, and meticulously decorated pumpkins. 

  

   

   

Central to all of the produce displays are the year's largest pumpkins, based on weight. Some of them are truly massive!

From 2016, The Big E's 100th anniversary

Stay tuned for the next installment of The Big E: State buildings