A Look Back at the Youth Working Steer Competition at The Big E
The Big E is home to Eastern States Exposition’s (ESE) annual Youth Working Steer Program in the Mallary Complex. The Youth Working Steer Competition allows teamsters who train cattle to exhibit specific tasks such as pulling and showmanship. In 2026, this event saw a 5% increase in participants, with nearly 30 youths from all over New England who came together to compete with the pair of steers they have trained to work in cohesion. Each pair is judged on criteria like working class and pulling class, fitting and showmanship and best matched set.
Each teamster and team demonstrates the skills and talents they have trained on each of their steers. The winners are rewarded for their training abilities, sportsmanship and their supported participation as guests at ESE and The Big E. The working-steer competition is one of the many agricultural events held each year at ESE.
Austin Ladd, of Epsom, N.H., served as the judge of this event. Awards were presented by ESE President and CEO, Gene Cassidy; Elena Hovagimian, director of Agriculture; and Joyce and Diane Young, daughters of former Youth Working Steer superintendent, Bob Young.
Cooper Morgan, of Maine, placed first in the senior showing division. Lily Larocque, of Vermont, placed second, followed by Bailey Howard, of Massachusetts, who placed third.
In the junior showing division, Samantha Paige, of New Hampshire placed first. Liam Cox, of New Hampshire, came in second place, with Lydia Larocque, of Vermont, following behind him in third place.
New Hampshire was recognized with the Sweepstakes Banner for achieving the most overall points per state. The Alternative Banner, or runner up, went to Maine. New Hampshire also received the Herdmanship Award for demonstrating excellence in animal care, facility management and sportsmanship.
Each year, two Sportsmanship Awards recognize participants who demonstrate fairness, respect and graciousness toward their peers and others throughout the competition. This year, Owen Laurenzo, of Mass., within the senior showing division, and Lydia Larocque, of Vermont, within the junior showing division, received this award.
The Bob Young Spirit Award was named in honor of Bob Young, the former superintendent of the Youth Working Steer Program at ESE. The award recognizes youths that have shown outstanding work and participation during the Working Steer Program. This year, The Bob Young Spirit Award was given to senior Howard Welch, of Maine, and junior Brook Bisbee, of Mass.
“Still to this day, some farmers make a living on working steers, as it is a practical means of log pulling, removal and other heavy lifting,” said Hovagimian.
Working steer teams are an integral part of New England’s agricultural history that dates back hundreds of years, and the dedication and love of participants that competed in this year’s competition are the reason it still stays alive to this day. While these competitions help participants learn the importance of animal handling and husbandry skills, they also learn the value of teamwork, importance of patience and results of persistence and resilience.