Eastern States Exposition (ESE) employees Kim Wolfe of the Agriculture department and Marvin Howard of Storrowton Village Museum have both been selected as finalists for the Howdy Awards, the region’s recognition for excellence in hospitality. Voting for the Howdy People’s Choice award is live on ExploreWesternMass.com now through Thursday, April 23, at midnight, so be sure to support these friendly faces as you cast your ballot!

Explore Western Mass developed the Howdy Awards program to express gratitude to and shine a spotlight on individuals working in thankless, public-facing roles. Howdy Award recipients are the best of the best within the hospitality industry, surpassing all expectations within their career roles.

The logic is simple; when visitors are treated well, they feel inclined to return to the region, which means more dollars go back to the local economy, maintaining jobs and supporting businesses big and small. ESE’s employees do this well during the organization’s more than 120 annual events, and Marion and Morrissey surpass the standard.

Kim Wolfe of Southwick, Mass., is the Agriculture, Retail and Events Assistant at ESE. She helps ensure the success of year-round events at the facility, including The Big E, The Fiber Festival of New England, Equine Affaire, the Northeast Poultry Congress, crafting and camping events, dog and horse shows, trade presentations and so on.

“This year we’ll host the American Dairy Goat Association’s national show,” said Wolfe, “and we’re very excited to welcome them to New England.”

“My job is the best of both worlds,” she continued. “I help bring together our exhibitors and the public come to see the endless variety of agricultural products and activities produced here in New England. We welcome everyone from fifth generation farmers to first-year producers, and they bring products from maple syrup to giant pumpkins, cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, horses, dogs, cheeses, wines, yarn and more.”

Marvin Howard of Agawam, Mass., has been a volunteer with Storrowton Village Museum for 18 years. In 2025, his commitment was recognized with a Host of the Day award at The Big E, which celebrates employees, volunteers and other members of the Fair family who embody The Big E’s philosophy of positive customer relations. These individuals are known for going above and beyond the call in their interactions, and Howard’s award was deserved.

Howard is affectionally nicknamed “Marv” by his fellow volunteers. He grew up “four miles from Orchard, Nebraska, where the population is only 350 people strong.” As a boy, he worked with beef cattle, pigs, chickens and corn on his father’s farm and attended a one-room schoolhouse much like the one he has volunteered at year-round at Storrowton Village Museum since 2008.

“I love my job here because I can dictate to people the histories of the different buildings,” he said. “I especially like to work at the North Center School because I can tell people how it was learning in a one-room schoolhouse, because that was how I was taught when I was young.”

Howard is 89 years old. At Storrowton Village Museum and beyond, he is an active volunteer and athlete. He served in the United States Airforce from 1955-1959 and now gives his time to the Honor Guard at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetary in Agawam, Mass.; the Director of the Friends of the Cemetery; and an active member of the Wilson-Thompson American Legion Post 185. In 2024, Governor Maura Healey invited Howard to the Mass. State House in Boston to receive the prestigious Captain Thomas Hudner Jr. Valor Award as a hero of the Korean War.

Howard has completed 39 marathons, and more than 800 local road races. He used to work at the Boston Marathon and is still volunteering at the IRONMAN 70.3 Western Mass. He runs or bikes daily.

“It’s a great honor to be selected as a Howdy Award finalist,” Howard proudly stated.

ESE is proud to have such standout individuals in its employment, and the team looks forward to supporting their nominees at the Howdy Awards Gala on Monday, April 27. Consider voting for them at ExploreWesternMass.com today!