Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, New York, Vermont spotlight the fighting spirit of the Northeast 

(Editor’s note: A series on The Great American State Fair, held in Washington, D.C., in honor of America’s 250th birthday, written by Heartlander News interns.)

While several Northeastern states chose not to officially participate in The Great American State Fair, residents from Maine and Massachusetts rallied to showcase their state pride in Washington, D.C., despite their governors’ decisions not to attend.

New Hampshire 

Surrounded by white pines and sugar maples, New Hampshire’s booth highlighted how the state’s forest industry has grown since it joined the Union in 1788.

Deciduous and evergreen trees now cover more than 80% of the Granite State. The wood has long been used to build New Hampshire’s historic covered bridges, furniture, barrels and products associated with the state’s maple syrup industry. The state’s 93 state parks protect many of these forests.

Large tree “cookies,” or cross-sections of tree trunks, leaned against displays, allowing visitors to count the growth rings and feel the rough bark.

Maine

Although the Pine Tree State did not officially participate in the fair, Maine’s booth reflected the determination of its residents. It featured an authentic Maine lobster trap, travel brochures and banners representing local organizations.

Republican Rep. Tiffany Strout and five other Maine lawmakers traveled to the Great American State Fair to operate the state’s booth with only five days’ notice, according to Strout’s Facebook page. She said she contacted as many businesses and organizations as possible, including the Northeast Shellfish Sanitation Association, Maine Oyster Trail and Wreaths Across America.

“I am still saddened leadership didn’t think the state was worth showcasing,” Strout wrote on Facebook. “But maybe things worked out the way they should, everyday people working together to showcase the real true Mainer spirit.”

Maine joined the Union as the 23rd state in 1820. It is known for its lighthouses, rocky coastline and forests, which cover nearly 90% of the state. Maine is also the nation’s largest producer of wild blueberries and lobsters, according to the Maine Department of Education and the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative.

Vermont

The Green Mountain State also did not officially participate in the fair. However, the booth featured displays from Freedom250 highlighting the University of Vermont, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, and the state’s dairy industry.

Although the booth was unmanned for much of the 16-day fair, Vermont Republican congressional candidate Mark Coester traveled to Washington, D.C., to staff it over the Fourth of July weekend. He handed out free maple syrup samples and spoke with visitors, WCAX reported.

Vermont joined the Union as the 14th state in 1791. It is home to 808 lakes and ponds and a large moose population, according to Vermont Vacation.

New York 

Visitors lined up across the National Mall to take photos with the iconic “I Love New York” sign near the booth entrance.

The booth featured displays on Broadway, the FIFA World Cup and Watkins Glen International, which hosts NASCAR Cup Series races.

Additional exhibits highlighted the Museum at Bethel Woods, located at the site of the original Woodstock Music Festival, and the Buffalo AKG Art Museum.

Beyond New York City, the Empire State is home to attractions including Niagara Falls, the Catskill Mountains and Saratoga Race Course. New York joined the Union as the 11th state in 1788.

Massachusetts

The Bay State also declined to officially participate, but resident Donna Fesinger was determined to represent Massachusetts herself.

After learning the state would not attend, Fesinger contacted local businesses and organizations for decorations and promotional materials, including Ginger Betty’s Bakery and the Eastern States Exposition, known as The Big E, which describes itself as the fourth-largest fair on the East Coast.

At the start of the two-week event, Fesinger handed out miniature bottles of maple syrup and maple candy, but the large crowds quickly exhausted the supply.

Two days into the fair, Boston resident Brian Foley visited the booth and found Fesinger operating it alone. He and his wife had planned to attend for only one day but decided to remain for the final 12 days to help.

Foley, who owns an aircraft parts manufacturing company with multiple 3D printers, volunteered to produce thousands of miniature Massachusetts keychains for visitors.

Both Foley and Fesinger criticized Massachusetts Democratic Gov. Maura Healey and other state officials who declined to participate.

“When politicians fail to represent their state, We the People step up and make it happen,” Foley wrote on Facebook. “Real representation doesn’t come from empty promises, it comes from citizens willing to answer the call and get the job done.”

(Featured media credit: from left, Kristin Knight and Donna Fesinger pose at the Massachusetts booth)