The Eastern States Exposition Foundation Makes Great Strides During The Big E
The Eastern States Exposition (ESE) Foundation works year-round to secure financial support and resources for its parent organization through charitable contributions, fundraising initiatives and partnerships that strengthen ESE and advance its mission. During The Big E, Linda McLaughlin, director of The ESE Foundation, made significant strides in mission awareness and fundraising.
“It is important for the Foundation to engage with fairgoers as an introduction,” said McLaughlin. “We want to build visibility and demonstrate how donations to the Foundation support and advance Exposition programs.”
To expand upon McLaughlin’s point, the financial stability and security that a successful Foundation offers helps ESE repair and maintain aging infrastructure and ensure programming continues, even in the face of unpredictable obstacles, including the tumultuous weather patterns that impact major events on the fairgrounds, such as this Fair season’s nor’easter.
During The Big E, the Foundation hosted community partners USA Recycling, Collins Electric Company, A-Signature Fence and Fathers and Sons at evening receptions and launched an awareness campaign, made possible by Farm Credit East, by distributing branded tomato seed packets from New England Seed Company of Connecticut through the Agriculture department, both in Farm-A-Rama and the Mallary Complex.
During The Big E, Farm-A-Rama is a hub for agricultural education, full of live farm animals, award-winning native produce and 4-H projects, an interactive urban farming display and more. The Foundation’s “Seed to Supper” campaign featured in this space was complemented by a brief informational video that encouraged fairgoers to grow their own food. The video featured footage from many local greenhouses and gardens and was narrated by Bill Collins, owner of NOLA Cajun Kitchen & Raw Bar at The Big E and Center Square Grill in East Longmeadow, Mass. The content of the video paired well with the Grow with Us urban garden exhibit on the exterior of Farm-A-Rama.
The Foundation also welcomed four University of Massachusetts (UMass) Amherst students through the Federal Work-Study Program, connecting classroom learning with practical professional experience. They were tasked with growing a contact list for prospective donors in the organization’s database. The students were Neena Chinappa, class of 2029, studying public health; Jacob Nevins, class of 2027, studying operations and information management and public policy; Joseph Senske, class of 2027, studying managerial economics and business analytics; and Leandro Tavares, class of 2028, studying economics. Their involvement simultaneously provides valuable support for Foundation initiatives and acquainting the next generation of professionals with ESE’s mission.
Evidence of The Foundation’s work could also be found at other sites at The Big E, too; in Storrowton Village Museum, Ryan Gothrup of Mount Juliet, Tenn., hosted live glassblowing demonstrations through Mobile Glass Studios. He created one-of-a-kind pieces at each of his three daily demonstrations. Toward the end of the Fair, more than 50 pieces were sold through an in-person and online auction, the proceeds of which benefited the ESE Foundation.
The Exposition’s board of trustees also rose to the occasion, with representatives from each state finding means through which they could support ESE’s agricultural and educational programming.
Kenn Hastings, an ESE Trustee and the head operator of Bread Load View Farm of Cornwall, Verm., continued his tradition of giving alms to The Foundation through the Vermont Maple Booth located on the Avene of States. This booth is a prime example of one of the Green Mountain State’s most desirable agricultural commodities, and it is a major tourist attraction in the Vermont Building. Hastings annually donates a percentage of booth sales to The ESE Foundation and offers a commemorative maple syrup bottle inspired by the Fair’s campaign.
ESE Trustee Mark DePasquale of Green Development LLC of Cranston, R.I., generously purchased nine of the ten Rhode Island-raised steers and a state-made raffle basket during the 4-H Beef Sale, an annual staple of agriculture programming at the Fair where eager buyers gather to support rising livestock farmers.
Buster Andrews, a fellow trustee from Rhode Island, has been showing cows since he was 12 years old. He comes from a family farm with generations of cattle, and he was integral in starting the ESE Red and White Dairy Show in 2008, at which he served as a breed representative. He has remained closely involved and active in 4-H at the Fair, and, following much discussion of a need for new rabbit hutches, Andrews donated funds to cover the replacement of outdated cages for the sake of the rabbit show which occurred during The Big E this fall.
The Foundation’s work is made possible through the generosity of trustees, exhibitors, businesses and individuals who recognize the importance of investing in agriculture and education. Whether through direct contributions, fundraising initiatives or support for youth programming, these partnerships help sustain ESE’s programming and infrastructure while creating opportunities for future generations. Learn more and donate at SupportESE.org.