The Big E, New England’s largest fair, is gearing up for its centennial celebration Sept. 16 to Oct. 2 at West Springfield, Mass.

As usual, it will be jam-packed with food and entertainment. But this year brings changes to some of the ag events and the livestock judging schedule. 

Special attractions include the Budweiser Clydesdales and the Swifty Swine racing pigs. You may want to cruise by the car shows on the Avenue of States, especially on Sept. 17 when tractors take over.

ROLL OUT THE PUMPKINS: Competition for the largest gourd, aka pumpkin, draws the super-heavyweights. And no, they don’t roll them. (Photos courtesy of Eastern States Exposition)

Open show exhibitors plus FFA and 4-H youth from across New England compete in one of East’s largest livestock shows and native produce competitions. Spokeswoman Sue Gallup expects the show will have more than 2,900 livestock and animal exhibits, more than 5,300 competitive exhibits, and over 7,000 4-H and FFA youths participating.

Saddle up and hold on
There’ll be much “horsing around” in the Coliseum during the Eastern States Exposition Horse Show. Watch them jump, canter and compete nearly  every day. Here’s the schedule:

Sept. 14-18 — Hunter Show and HOTY Finals
Sept. 16 — $15,000 Hunter Classic
Sept. 21-24 — 4-H Horse Show
Sept. 22-25 — Saddlebreds, Hackneys, Morgans, Friesians and Open Classes
Sept. 29-Oct. 2 — Big E Draft Horse Show
Oct. 2 — $35,000 Six-Horse Hitch Showdown
 

Big E livestock shows
The livestock show schedule has changed from last year. Following is a list of key events. For more daily schedules, visit thebige.com or facebook.com/TheBigE, or call 413-205-5115.

Wednesday, Sept. 14
1 p.m., Northeast National Brown Swiss
Thursday, Sept. 15
9 a.m., Red and White Dairy
Friday, Sept. 16
9 a.m., Northeast Fall National Holstein
1 p.m., National Northeast Regional
6 p.m., Junior Belted Galloway
Saturday, Sept. 17
8:30 a.m., Northeast Regional Suffolk
9 a.m., Belted Galloway
2 p.m., National Eastern Southdown
Sunday, Sept. 18
8:30 a.m., National Eastern Junior Hampshire (sheep)
12 p.m., Market Lamb
2 p.m., National Shopshire
Monday, Sept. 19
8:30 a.m., Polled Dorset
10 a.m., Horse Pulling (3,050 lbs.)
1 p.m., Northeast Junior Milking Shorthorn 
1 p.m., Cheviot
1:30 p.m., Horse Pulling (3,350 lbs.)
6 p.m., Horse Pulling (over 3,350 lbs.)
Tuesday, Sept. 20
9 a.m., Northeast National Milking Shorthorn
9:30 a.m., Ox Pulling (2,500 lbs.)
11:30 p.m., Ox Pulling (3,300 lbs.)
1 p.m., Horned Dorset
2:30 p.m., Ox Pulling (3,300 lbs.)
3 p.m., All Other Breeds Beef
4 p.m., Sheep Supreme Champion
6 p.m., Ox Pulling (over 3,500 lbs.)
Wednesday, Sept. 21
9 a.m., Jersey
3 p.m., Jackpot Heifer and Beef Steer
Thursday, Sept. 22
10 a.m.  Eastern National Ayrshire
Friday, Sept. 23
9 a.m., Rambouillet
11 a.m., Jr. Hereford
1:30 p.m., Shetland (sheep)
Saturday, Sept. 24
8:30 a.m., NE Regional Tunis
9 a.m., 4-H Beef Type 
1 p.m., Hereford
2 p.m., Romney
Sunday, Sept. 25
8:30 a.m., Youth Working Steer Junior Cart
8:30 a.m., National Regional Border Leicester
2 p.m., Northeast Regional Lincoln
3:30 p.m., Youth Working Steer Sr. Cart
Monday, Sept. 26
8:30 a.m., Youth Working Steer Pulling
9 a.m., All Other Breeds Wool
1 p.m., Eastern Regional Natural Colored Wool
5 p.m., Corriedale
6 p.m., 4-H Beef Sale
Tuesday, Sept. 27
9 a.m., Regional Cotswold
9 a.m., New England Guernsey Classic
1 p.m., Katahdin
3 p.m., Sheep Supreme Champion
Wednesday, Sept. 28
11 a.m., Lowline (beef) 
3 p.m., Angus
Thursday, Sept. 29
9 a.m., Llama
Friday, Sept. 30
7:45 a.m., Llama
2:15 p.m., Alpaca
Saturday, Oct. 1
8 a.m., Llama
8:30 a.m., 4-H Market Lamb and Breeds
9 a.m., 4-H Dairy Goat
9:30 a.m.,  Alpaca
Sunday, Oct. 2
8 a.m., Alpaca
8 a.m., Llama
9 a.m., Northeast Classic Dairy Goat
12 p.m., Open and Youth Swine

BEST OF SHOW: Young livestock exhibitors of all ages bring their best to compete in the junior and open competitions.