2026 NEHCA Spring Show & Gathering

Do you need to exhibit cattle to enjoy a NEHCA Highland Cattle Show? No!

NEHCA and AHCA Highland Shows create a fun and family-friendly environment allowing beginners, hobbyists, breed enthusiasts, youth, and established breeders to gather in a welcoming space. to converse, exhibit cattle, and network with farms from across the region and country.

JOIN the NEHCA festivities! Enjoy great highland cattle genetics, conversations, & FUN.

Visit the 2025 NEHCA Spring Show (May 1st to 2nd)!

May 1st-2nd, 2026
West Springfield, MA
Eastern States Exposition Center

NEHCA Sponsorship Opportunities:

You do not have to exhibit cattle to Sponsor the 2026 Spring Show & Gathering!

NEHCA Sponsorships are a great way to get your farm name out n' about and recognized in the Highland community! Whether you sponsor in the Show Book, or advertise on our T-Shirt, or website- NEHCA is incredibly thankful for your contribution towards supporting our regional organization.

Sponsorships are purchased on the Showman website.

Sponsorship Questions?

Contact Miriam May at miriammay98@gmail.com, or Ben Morris at, 724-833-3101, and we will help you!

NEHCA Banquet: Saturday, May 2nd

Location: Carriage House at Storrowton Tavern: 1305 Memorial Avenue W, West Springfield, MA 01089 (Gate #2)

The historic colonial-era tavern is located right on the Eastern States Fairgrounds, across from the historic brick State Houses. The NEHCA Banquet brings breeders from across the region together for a night of social camaraderie and offers a silent auction during cocktail hour, Annual Awards, and a delicious buffet dinner.

Purchase all Banquet Tickets online on Showman!

The Carriage House at Storrowton Tavern is on the ground level, providing mobility accessibility for attendees.

6:00pm: Doors Open/Cocktail Hour/Silent Auction

7:00pm: Banquet Ceremony Begins

Banquet Registration DEADLINE: Thursday, April 23rd @11:30pm

Banquet Adult Ticket is $48, Children under 8 is $20

Banquet Questions? Please do not hesitate to reach out to: Marcy Lancaster, at 724-263-0156

NEHCA Membership:

Please remember, to show cattle at the 2026 NEHCA Spring Show & Gathering, you must be a current 2026 NEHCA Member, click HERE for a membership form.

2026 NEHCA SPRING SHOW ENTRY FORM:

New this year! All 2026 NEHCA Spring Show Entries have moved to the Showman website. Starting 2026, all AHCA Superpoint Shows will conduct Highland entries with the Showman website- we are very excited to announce this partnership. Find all Spring Show information, animal entries forms, and Banquet ticket purchases on the Showman website:

Having trouble navigating the Showman form?

Contact Miriam May at 774-212-3600, or Ben Morris at, 724-833-3101, and we will help you!

NEHCA Juniors Entry Forms (Youth Exhibitors): Still need to update

Hey NEHCA Juniors! Glad to have you here, Junior entry forms can only be completed online.

Please make sure to complete all three of the following online forms to enter the NEHCA Junior Show:

Enter your heifer in Big East Heifer Show & Big East Showmanship HERE
- Please Note: NEHCA Junior Show entries are handled by Big East, you need to enter using the Big East Heifer Show Entry Form
Make sure you also enter your heifer in the NEHCA Open Show using Form #2: HERE
Register as a NEHCA Junior and enter NEHCA Showmanship using Form #4: HERE
If you would like to permit NEHCA to share photos on Social Media or the NEHCA Website, please fill out the Minor Photography Release Form and give to NEHCA Junior Director at the Show.

Junior Questions? Please do not hesitate to reach out to NEHCA Junior Director: Laura McDowell-May, at SeawindMeadows@gmail.com

NEHCA & BIG EAST HOTEL INFORMATION: Still need to update

Hilton Garden Inn

800 Hall of Fame Ave

Springfield, MA 01105

The Hilton Garden Inn in Springfield, MA, is offering a special room rate of $169 per night for a room with two queen beds (excluding state and local taxes). A block of rooms has been reserved from May 1 to May 4, 2025.

Hotel Block Deadline: April 1st, 2026, or earlier if they sell out.

Space is limited, please book your rooms ASAP!

Group Code: BIGY25

To Be Directed to the Hotel Website Click: HERE

Hotel Questions? Please do not hesitate to reach out to Jacquelyn Chotkowski 607-731-3487

CAMPING:

Exhibitors and Visitors are both welcome to camp at the Eastern States Fairgrounds, more information HERE

Campers are welcome, with full-utility hookups.

Payment is due to the Eastern States Livestock office (located across from the Mallory building bathrooms) upon arrival to the Fairgrounds.

$25/Night for 50 amp

Hey New Exhibitors!

Do you own Highlands and are interested in Showing, but feel overwhelmed about getting involved?

We are here to help!

Contact Laura McDowell-May, head of our Show Committee Mentorship Program.

We will answer your vet questions, health requirements, and what supplies to bring to a show- we'll work with you from A-Z. We all began somewhere and NEHCA would love to help you through the process!

Creating your Animal Show Sign:

Feel welcome to download the sample show sign template and add your animal's information. Then print! You can laminate and duck tape sign to your curtains, or if feeling fancy put the laminated sign in an 8X11 picture frame (remember to remove the glass), drill a hole in the top two corners of the frame, and run wire through the hole to make two hooks! To view the Show Sign Template, click HERE