Pennsylvania Farm Show 2011.

Most state farm competitions are held in summer or autumn, but for many Pennsylvanians the state farm competition, also known as the Pennsylvania Farm Show, occurs in January, just after the new year begins. Most people would believe that Pennsylvania is only home to corn & cows. However, the Farm Show teaches everyone that corn & cows are just two of the things Pennsylvania has to offer from its agricultural world. Pennsylvania's main industries are dairy, apples, honey, maple syrup, & corn, but they also produce poultry, swine, sheep, goats, rabbits, pine trees, mushrooms, and an enormous variety of fruits, vegetables, & nuts. The Farm Show showcases each sub-industry within the larger agricultural industry.

The Farm Show for 2011 runs from January 8-15 in the PA Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg, the state capital. It is a week-long event with different demonstrations, items, & farming practices showcased each day. Entrance to the Farm Show is free, but you have to pay $10 for parking. If you come with a group of friends, it can end up being pretty cheap per person, & they even provide shuttles from the parking lot to the complex.

There are vendors throughout the complex and in the food court. Vendors often give out samples of their products, all of which are delicious and made using Pennsylvania grown ingredients. The vendors in the food court sell hot food products such as chicken sandwiches, pulled pork, fried mozzarella cubes, fried vegetables, honey ice cream and waffles, funnel cakes, & smoothies. The vendors in the main hall generally sell packaged products such as cheese, dips, sauces, & syrups.

After sampling the Pennsylvania gourmet delicacies, you can walk around the other half of the Exhibition Hall & admire the farming equipment & sustainable energy displays. There are tractors, trucks, trailers, solar panels, wind turbines, dioramas, & even cars on display.

Anyone who loves animals will enjoy walking around the many wings of the farm show complex. The complex houses cows, horses, sheep, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, rabbits, goats, deer, and alpacas during their week long stay. It is great to see the variety of animal life available throughout the state; however, if you have allergies, this probably isn't the best place to be, because that is a lot of dander & feathers inside a mostly unventilated room. Throughout the week many people show their animals in the arenas for judging. You never know who will take home the blue ribbon for Best in Show.

The Farm Show is also home to many information booths for many different state departments including: PA Fish & Boat Commission, PA Game Commission, PA Gaming Control Board, PA Department of Health, PA Emergency Management Agency, the National Weather Service, Shaver's Creek Environmental Center, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary (see previous blog entry), and many more.

If this sounds like something you are interested in, you still have time to attend! The Farm Show runs everyday until Saturday, January 15th. You can find out more about the Farm Show & Pennsylvania agriculture at the links below.

For more information about the Farm Show & PA Agriculture:
* Pennsylvania Farm Show (has a full schedule of events)
* Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
* Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association
* Pennsylvania Co-Operative Potato Growers, Inc.
* Pennsylvania Livestock Association
* Pennsylvania Maple Syrup Producers Council
* Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association
* PennAg Industries Association
* Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
* Pennsylvania FFA Foundation
* Pennsylvania Cattlemen's Association



Display of apples from Pennsylvania's Apple Country, complete with apple related fun facts.


2 sheep in the animal housing area.