For Immediate Release
December 27, 2007

CONTACT:
Colleen Greer
Phone: 717-787-6801
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Weekly Column: Farm Show to Arrive in PA on January 5

One of the best ways to beat January's winter doldrums is to celebrate our Commonwealth's agricultural heritage at the annual Pennsylvania State Farm Show – the largest indoor agricultural event in the country. It's a time to celebrate farmers' contributions to our economy and heritage and to visit and enjoy the Farm Show Complex located in the heart of Dauphin County.

This year, the Farm Show will run January 5-12 and plans to accommodate more than 400,000 spectators who are anticipated to visit the complex during the week. The Farm Show expects to have approximately 270 commercial exhibitors and over 10,000 competitive exhibitors, including everything from horses, cattle, sheep, swine, goats, rabbits, and poultry to eggs, fruit, and maple and horticultural products, nuts, mushrooms, wine, and vegetables. Admission for the event is free.

For those who market agriculture-related products or display livestock and produce, the show is a great way not only to reach a wide audience, but to demonstrate their pride in the work they do throughout the year. The Farm Show is especially important to young people, who get a chance to show off their talents and skills, thereby encouraging the next generation of Pennsylvania farmers.

For the past 92 years, the Farm Show has thrived in providing an educational and fun experience for families in Pennsylvania. This annual event was originally inspired by the traveling Pennsylvania State Fair which began in 1851. By 1917, the traveling stopped and the Farm Show found its home in Harrisburg. According to the Department of Agriculture, the practice of holding the show in the month of January developed because many agricultural groups have customarily held meetings in Harrisburg during this time of year as they looked ahead to the next growing season.

Pennsylvania is home to approximately 60,000 farm families who work hard all year long to keep our agriculture business vibrant and viable. Agriculture is the Commonwealth's number one industry and participation by Pennsylvanians in the country's largest indoor show dedicated solely to this issue is important. It is certainly a wonderful reflection of commitment by Pennsylvanians, our state's heritage, and the future of agriculture in the Commonwealth.

In keeping with my belief of reaching out to the community on issues that are valuable to my constituents particularly within the realm of farming, I have an advisory committee to offer a way for interested constituents to organize and channel information relating to agriculture. I have found this group allows me to better serve the agriculture community of the 15th Senatorial District. The Agricultural Advisory Committee consists of farmers, vegetable growers, livestock producers, retailers, horticulturists, green house operators, and others. The committee meets annually and is open to the public.

If you would like more information on my Agricultural Advisory Committee, please contact my office at 787-6801 or visit my website at www.piccola.org. Additional details on the 92nd Pennsylvania State Farm Show can be found at www.agriculture.state.pa.us/farmshow. The Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) will provide coverage of the event including high school championship rodeos, draft horse hitched competitions, cooking demonstrations, sheep to shawl contest, square dancing and polka dancing, and livestock judging. For a daily schedule and channel designations, visit PCN's website, at www.pcntv.com.