State Representative Dan Moul

(1/2017) Adams County has a rich agricultural history as evidenced by our many farms, orchards and vineyards. These are just a few examples of production agriculture in our area, and our reason for celebrating our agriculture heritage each January.

Agriculture and agribusiness collectively comprise Pennsylvania’s leading industry, representing about a half-million jobs on the farm and in businesses that support the agriculture industry. Beginning on Jan. 7, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will host the 2017 Pennsylvania Farm Show – the largest indoor agricultural exposition in the country.

The Farm Show has traditionally provided the agriculture industry with an opportunity to showcase all that Pennsylvania agriculture has to offer, and to emphasize how agriculture impacts each and every one of us every day.

This year’s show will feature nearly 6,000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits and 300 commercial exhibits in addition to the latest advancements in technology and demonstrations on how it is applied in agriculture production. It offers many family-friendly exhibitions and educational activities, including the Sheep-to-Shawl contest, a rodeo, equine agility and endurance demonstrations, and 4-H competitions involving food, sewing and best-in-breed judging. Visitors can see and touch many of the animals one might find on the farm, and they can even watch chicks hatch.

Perhaps the most popular attractions at the Pennsylvania Farm Show are the food courts, located in the Expo Hall and Main Hall of the complex. Over the course of the eight-day show, visitors will have a wide variety of farm fresh foods from which to choose, including the famous Farm Show baked potatoes and milkshakes. Other offerings include various beef, pork, poultry and fish dishes as well as ice cream, white and flavored milk products, pies, apple dumplings, fried mushrooms and other vegetables, Pennsylvania wine and potato donuts – just to name a few.

It all takes place at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, which boasts about 1 million square feet on 24 acres and an additional 60 acres of parking, making it ideal for the nearly 80 events and expositions that occur there every year.

As always, admission to the show is FREE, but parking this year is $15 per vehicle. Shuttle service will again be provided from the lots around the complex and nearby Harrisburg Area Community College. The Farm Show ends at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14. For more information, visit www.FarmShow.state.pa.us.