WHEREAS, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s historic exhibition hall, the Maine Building, was constructed in 1925 on the Avenue of States at the Eastern States Exposition Fairgrounds, home of The Big E, in West Springfield, Massachusetts, to showcase the best of Maine to fairgoers from across the Northeast and beyond; and

WHEREAS, each September, dozens of displays and market stalls connect visitors with our farms, forests, fisheries, artisans, and entrepreneurs, proudly sharing Maine’s story to the nearly 1 million visitors to the Maine Building; and

WHEREAS, each year at the Big E, 4-H and FFA youth from across Maine proudly compete, showcase their talents, and build connections with peers from across the region, and in 2025, Maine’s Year of Youth in Agriculture, these programs stand as a proud reminder of Maine’s deep agricultural traditions and the pivotal role that these young leaders play in carrying them forward; and

WHEREAS, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, and others provide vital operational support, staffing, and outreach each year to prepare exhibitors to represent their products, and together with our New England neighbors, have helped feature hundreds of regional businesses to fairgoers throughout the years; and

WHEREAS, the artisans, makers, farmers, fishermen, food purveyors, and many more who collaborate in Maine and at the Maine Building create special memories for visitors as they taste, shop, and connect with the people who make Maine so unique; and

WHEREAS, 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the Maine Building, a century of Maine’s craftsmanship, community, and culture showcased at the Big E;

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Janet T. Mills, Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby proclaim September 13, 2025 as

The Maine Building’s Centennial Celebration Day

and I invite all to join in celebrating 100 years of the Maine Building at the Big E, a centennial event on Maine Day, honoring a legacy of Maine ingenuity, hospitality, and pride.

In testimony whereof, I have caused the Great Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed GIVEN under my hand at Augusta this third day of September Two Thousand Twenty-Five