BIG E 2026

We survived! Two 4 day weekends at the Big E with both horse and goats. Phew!

The Big E is a three week long agriculture based fair held at the Eastern States Exposition in Springfield, MA. It represents the culmination of the 4-H year and is in a sense the equivalent of a New England State Fair. Both 4-H programs have a 3-4 day program that include showmanship, fitting and regular competitions. The goat weekend concludes with a large open show and marks the end of the Big E.

This year Amanda was determined to bring a horse to the Eastern States Exposition New England Horse Program. Last year Mojo was her project, he got kicked in the chest and had a nasty laceration and was actively being treated for Lyme, so he could not go. SA Jeeka’s Jessica decided to throw a wrench in the prep work this year when she colicked mid-summer and was diagnosed with ulcers. JJ got some time off and was treated with gastro guard and sucralfate. Post treatment and with careful management, she was doing well and we decided Amanda could take her to the Big E. Mind you, this is the horse that three years ago came from Iowa and was a nervous wreck just simply tacking up in cross ties. Two years ago she had a massive leg wound on her right hind requiring months of wrapping and care. Last year Amanda rode her in her first 50 miler and started doing some ring work and a few lessons as time allowed. JJ had been to a whopping two shows; one dressage schooling show and one open show experience before going to the Big E on a Brad Paisley concert weekend! I was hoping she would simply not lose her mind.

As it turns out, Amanda and JJ had a great time. Arrival was on Thursday. JJ was braided up and looked like a million bucks. She was a little antsy at times with the crowds and commotion, but never unmanageable, or even difficult. Amanda was babying her and she got extra alfalfa and massages. Surprisingly, she handled being cooped up in a small stall in the very busy environment quite well and kept eating throughout. Showmanship was Thursday, English pleasure classes happened on Friday and some games classes on Saturday. JJ walked into the Coliseum looking like she belonged there and didn’t even spook at the twinkling lights of the gazebo in the middle. Amanda and JJ had some difficulties navigating the large classes at the canter in a small arena and ended up on the wrong lead a few times and crowded amongst slower horses. While they didn’t place in the pleasure classes, Amanda had fun and was proud of their accomplishments together. Just being there was a win for this team. Amanda managed to snag a ribbon in the water race class on Saturday, though! Embedded in the youth activities was also quiz bowl, a knowledge test and a scavenger hunt as well as horse management. Sunday they came home.

But no rest for the weary. Did I mention Amanda has a massive school class line up this year? 5 AP/ECE classes at school, one Honors aquaculture class, and two classes at Three Rivers community college! As she was preparing for the Big E goat show weekend starting on Thursday, she also had 4 college level exams on Wednesday!

Thursday came and 8 goats went to the Big E with Amanda. She had to choose her team, as she has more than that on her 4-H roster. She took Carolina, Porsche, Fritter, Bon Bon, Tiramisu, Guinness, Baileys, and Gin and Tonic. So, 3 milkers, 2 dry yearlings, and 3 kids from this year.

Friday was showmanship and fitting. Every year, at this fall show, we have to make a decision about the length of clipping for this show. The reality is that our goats live outside and while they have shelters, they do not get locked in a big barn at night. So, for their health, they need some hair or I will be blanketing until February or March. We didn’t clip anyone again, except for Fritter, who I allowed Amanda to clip with a #5 blade for showmanship. She will be wearing a blanket when we dip below 40 for at least a month. Amanda knew she would get placed lower in fitting for the length of coat, but she also wants her goat to stay healthy. On Tuesday after the weekend we had our first frost, and I was happy to see that no one was cold.

Amanda placed second in showmanship and then 8th for fitting in a large class of 13 senior youth. I was happy to see that Fritter was exceptionally well behaved for trading goats with another youth, telling me that Amanda’s training has really paid off with that goat. For the last few years she had used Porsche for showmanship and Porsche is an opiniated b*tch who doesn’t tolerate other handlers and likes to kick the judge when they check her udder. Fritter has a more mellow personality.

Friday the kids do milk test in the morning and evening, and Carolina won Best Lamancha milker.

Saturday the kids had breed classes. The judge this year was Anna Thompson Hajdik. Amanda won best Senior Lamancha with Porsche. Porsche has beat Carolina a few times this year based on mammary. Amanda won best Junior Lamancha with Bon Bon. Guinness was second senior kid. Gin and Tonic was the only junior kid. Tiramisu was Reserve grand champion in the Recorded grade juniors.

Saturday evening at the conclusion of the 4-H program, Rob left the Big E and drove home to sleep and pick up 4 more goats to take to the open show. Ferrari, Mina, Kahlua, and Margarita were loaded and Rob and I headed up to the Big E in the early hours on Sunday for a long day of showing. The big E goat show goes way into the evening most years and it is an exhausting end to a long weekend, but the premiums are really good and who cannot use a little extra hay money this year?!?

In the lamancha senior show, we had 5 milkers. Porsche was second and Ferrari fifth in the 3-4 year old class, Mina was first in the 2 year old class and Fritter the first yearling milker. Porsche was chosen as the Reserve grand champion. Carolina was second in the champion challenge class. We struggled getting the goats to show fill like we wanted having shown the day before as well. In hind sight we probably should have only milked once the day before, but udder health is important too.

In the lamancha junior show, we had chosen to scratch Bon Bon to increase the odds of another junior getting a restricted championship leg. Bon Bon already has multiple dry legs (and the 2026 Junior National Championship) and we felt it was the right thing to do. Our two junior kids placed Margarita first and Gin and Tonic second. In the senior kids Baileys was third, Guinness fourth and Kahlua fifth. We did not win junior grand champion, but Martini, Baileys litter mate sister, went reserve.

Tiramisu was fourth senior dry yearling in a large recorded grade class.

During Awards, Amanda received the Premier Breeder and Premier Exhibitor Award for lamanchas.

The Big E show is typically our last show of the year. Now our focus shifts to breeding and some horse lessons over the winter, but we also have some big family changes coming up, more on that later!