The Maine Central Railroad offered reduced rate excursion tickets to the sixth annual Eastern States Exposition in Springfield, Mass. The event was created by Joshua L. Brooks in order to educate young people about agriculture and promote related vocations. Brooks convinced the National Dairy Show to move their annual event from Chicago to Springfield, where agricultural trade was low. The new event was first held in 1916 and was called the Eastern States Agricultural and Industrial Exposition. The shortened name of Eastern States Exposition was first used in 1923.

The Eastern States Exposition was a display of agricultural, commercial, and artistic developments, and often included special features such as auto races, dairy and horse shows, and fireworks. Maine often sent children as delegates to the exposition, many of whom were a part of camps or organizations such as 4-H or Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.