Harrisburg, PA – Today, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding led a tour of must-see exhibits, new events, competitions — and of course, food — to be featured during the 2024 PA Farm Show. The 2024 Farm Show theme, Connecting Our Communities, celebrates the best of Pennsylvania agriculture and what unites us across geography, identities, and cultures.
"Farm Show is Pennsylvania's State Fair," Secretary Redding said. "But it is so much more than exciting competitions, laughs, and great food. It is a chance to connect with the people who feed us and feed our economy every day, producing the goods and materials we rely on to enhance our quality of life, and sustain our environment and communities. It is a chance to learn and a chance to explore what connects us all as Pennsylvanians."
Tour stops included:
Goat Snuggling with hosts Justin and Lauren Steinmetz of Steinmetz Family Farm in Fleetwood, PA. The Main Hall exhibit offers guests the chance to snuggle up to a fluffy kid, and experience a hot trend in agritourism, while supporting a cause. The exhibit is one of a handful that charge a fee during Farm Show, including Fishin' With Friends, and the perennial favorite Carousel. Proceeds from the $5 per person fee for goat snuggling go to the Friends of Farm Show Foundation to support their educational mission.
So You Want to Be a Farmer with hosts Jen Brodsky, farmer and regenerative food business consultant with True North Collective and Piebird Farm in Ottsville, PA, and Christa Barfield of FarmerJawn, in West Chester and other Southeast PA locations. Christa runs the largest Black-woman owned, regenerative, organic produce farm in the nation. The popular exhibit features activities, experts, and answers for farmers and aspiring farmers, regardless of location, size, or whether you aim to produce food to feed a family, or start a business.
Pennsylvania Charcuterie Experience with host Chef Kurt Wewer, award-winning chef and consultant with Central PA Chef Consultants. Chef Wewer and representatives of food producer associations highlighted a sampling of the Pennsylvania-grown and made food and beverages that will be featured throughout Farm Show, in the Main Hall Farmers Market to take home, and on the PA Preferred® Culinary Connection Stage. Visit the Culinary Connection to sample celebrity recipes prepped by future stars from PA culinary schools, grab a cookbook, and inspire your own PA farm-to-table culinary adventures. Featured products include Pennsylvania wine, cheese, honey, maple, potatoes, and mushrooms.
PA Apple Growers Apple Wall with host Ellie Vranich of Hollabaugh Brothers Orchards in Biglerville, and the Pennsylvania Apple Board — back by popular demand, the Apple Wall in Main Hall dramatically represents the quality and breadth of Pennsylvania's apple industry. A not-to-be-missed photo location, and hot spot for sampling a delicious variety of apples and apple products to take home.
New Livestock Fitting Competition with hosts Justin Rosenberger and Caleb Miller of the PA Farm Show Jr. Committee. Our young hosts highlighted the new Fitting Competitions on January 6-7, when teams of three will compete to fluff, dry, groom, and clip their animals to put their best hooves forward for the judges in the show ring.
Pennsylvania Conservation "Pod" with host Doug Wolfgang, executive secretary of the State Conservation Commission — Doug highlighted what visitors can see and learn about what PA Farmers are doing to protect soil and water resources for tomorrow. The popular rainfall simulator, modified farm equipment, and planted field by an indoor stream in GIANT Expo Hall is a must-see exhibit whether you're a farmer looking for funding or checking out new equipment, a homeowner wanting to learn how to do your part for our environment, or just curious about what's happening on farms across our region.
The tour ended with a preview of the Farm Show Food Court hosted by PA Farm Show Complex & Expo Center Executive Director Sharon Myers. Sharon introduced foods you can purchase at the Farm Show's Food Courts in GIANT Expo Hall and Main Hall to support Pennsylvania food grower and producer organizations and youth scholarships that feed the future of agriculture.
The food court will open to the public from noon to 9 p.m. on Friday, January 5, prior to the opening day of the 2024 Farm Show on January 6. A full menu of items and the organizations represented can be found at farmshow.pa.gov under 2024 Farm Show and Eat.
The Pennsylvania Farm Show draws scores of visitors to our capital city every January to connect with the people and products who make Pennsylvania agriculture great. The largest indoor agricultural expo in the nation, featuring nearly 6,000 animals, 12,000-plus competitive events and exhibits, nearly 250 commercial exhibits and hundreds of educational and entertaining events, the 2024 show celebrates how agriculture is Connecting Our Communities.
Pennsylvania's State Fair showcases top competitors from 108 county and local fairs, and the diversity and quality of Pennsylvania's agriculture industry, the innovative people who make it thrive, and the faces of our proud past and promising future. The show offers visitors a peek into the industry that supports 593,000 Pennsylvania jobs and contributes $132.5 billion to Pennsylvania's economy every year.
The 2024 Pennsylvania Farm Show runs from Saturday, January 6 through Saturday, January 13 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. Admission is free. Parking is $15 per vehicle.
Hours, a daily schedule of events, maps, and much more information to help visitors enjoy the show can be found at farmshow.pa.gov under 2024 Farm Show.
Note: Photos and video from the tour will be available at pacast.com.
Contact: Shannon Powers, Agriculture - 717.603.2056, shpowers@pa.gov
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