‘Wow, This Is Amazing!’ How One Woman Turned Her Childhood Love for The Big E Fair Into a Mission
How a historic trailblazer inspired one lifelong fan to lead New England's biggest autumn tradition
Key Takeaways
- The Big E Fair hosted the first-ever female fair board trustee, trailblazer Helen Storrow.
- Helen Storrow generously endowed over $1M to expand and beautify the historic fairground.
- Today, the fair welcomes 1.6 million annual visitors, keeping New England's history alive.
After a lifetime of attending New England’s Eastern States Exposition — better known as The Big E — and learning about the first woman to serve on a board, Anne-Alise Pietruska was inspired to transform her childhood love of the fair into a meaningful mission. Here, she shares her story for Woman’s World’s“Fair’est of Them All” special series with Sandra Lee.
“Wow, this is amazing,” Anne-Alise Pietruska remembers thinking as she learned about the life and mission of Helen Storrow at a summer camp on The Big E fairgrounds. Having been a patron every year of her entire life, the fair already held a special place in her heart. But after hearing about Helen, Anne-Alise was even more inspired.
In 1916, when the Eastern States Exposition — The Big E — began in West Springfield, Massachusetts, it was originally geared toward livestock and agriculture. But soon, the founders realized more could be added to make the fair an experience for the entire family.
Helen Storrow, a women’s advocate and an early Girl Scout leader, was elected head of the trustees’ new home department — the first woman to ever be appointed to a fair board.
Helen went on to impact the fair industry in countless ways and endowed more than $1 million toward the beautification and growth of The Big E.
A taste of fair life
At seven months old, Anne-Alise went to The Big E for the first time, and as soon as she grew of age, her parents enrolled her in summer camp at the fair. As a member of 4-H in her youth, Anne-Alise volunteered at the Milk and Apple booths at the fair and aided in the Agriculture Department’s native produce competitive exhibits. She played flute in her high school marching band during The Big E’s daily parade, rode on Mardi Gras floats and spent countless hours playing on the grounds.
But even as the years went by, Anne-Alise’s favorite fair exhibits stayed the same: Farm-A-Rama — where fairgoers learn about modern agriculture, sustainability and food systems — and Storrowton Village — the section of the fair inspired by Helen Storrow, whose story remained a pillar in Anne-Alise’s life.
I wonder if there are more ways I can get involved here, Anne-Alise thought as she grew older, remembering all the memories she’d made at The Big E and Helen’s powerful legacy. I know there’s a bigger place for me here.
Before long, Anne-Alise began interning in the fair’s marketing department and later joined the organization as director of marketing, where she has worked for the past 13 years.
Continuing the mission
Today, The Big E — visited by 1.6 million people each year — is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that supports a mission centered on agriculture, education, historic preservation and regional economic development.
Almost 80 years after its creation, Storrowton Village Museum on the grounds of The Big E continues the mission put forth by Helen Storrow. Its immersive, recreated village of 18th- and 19th-century New England buildings, complete with period crafts, trades and interpretation, brings regional history to life — just as Helen always hoped.
Preserving a legacy
As for Anne-Alise, this year will mark her 35th fair as an attendee and The Big E’s 110th anniversary (running September 18 to October 4), and she is proud to carry on Helen’s legacy and contribute to the fair’s impact on the community each year.
“The Big E and Eastern States Exposition are central to my professional life and to the work I care most deeply about. Revenue generated during the fair is reinvested back into the grounds, programming and community initiatives that allow us to operate year-round and serve the region in meaningful ways,” says Anne-Alise.
“Being part of the showman profession is incredibly fulfilling, and the fair represents the culmination of a year’s worth of planning, collaboration and anticipation,” she continues.
“It is our moment to bring ideas to life, carry forward the fair’s legacy and create meaningful experiences for new generations of fairgoers.”
Keep an eye out for our “Fair’est of Them All” series! In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, Sandra Lee—chef, creator of Semi-Homemade Cooking and host of Blue Ribbon Bakeoff—is hitting the road with Woman’s World for a special cross-country journey honoring the remarkable women who bring America’s beloved state and county fairs to life. From longtime family traditions to unforgettable fairground innovations, these inspiring stories celebrate the heart, resilience and community spirit woven into fairs across the country. Catch the series in issues on sale May 15, June 26, July 17, August 4 and August 28, with stories appearing online the following week.
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