The Pennsylvania Farm Show is in a league all its own. The largest indoor agricultural event in the country charges out of the gate each January with eight straight days of agricultural showmanship and specialties in Harrisburg. You could roam the 24 acres of the PA Farm Show Complex & Expo Center for hours and just scratch the surface of this massive affair.
In a time of commercialization of food and decline in farms, this gathering reminds us of the value of hardworking farmers and makers with their hands in the soil, producing food from the land around us. Whether you’ve never been to Farm Show or go every year, keep it on your radar as a fun and fascinating agricultural event that’s got something for everyone!
Here are five reasons we love the Pennsylvania Farm Show:
It’s Huge
When we say this show is big, we mean massive in both size and scope. It spans 11 halls, three arenas and over 1 million square feet of space. There are over 3, 000 competitors, 6,000 animals and 1 million visitors every year.
The displays are enormous, too. Take, for example, the famous butter sculpture. It’s a stupefying 1,000 lbs of butter, carved intricately into a glowing yellow work of art that plays on the show’s theme that year. The Pennsylvania Co-Operative Potato Growers stacks a mountain of spuds in the Main Hall, where you’ll also find seemingly endless displays of honey and apples. Want to try PA maple syrup? Choose from amber, golden, dark and very dark in all kinds of sizes, or veer into maple candy, maple cream or mapleaid territory.
Whatever your flavor of PA agricultural product, you’re likely to find it in spades at the Farm Show.
Spirited Competition
The Farm Show has tons to offer in the way of friendly competition. It seems that nearly every aspect of the show is juried and judged, and ribbons abound. From rodeo to rabbits, angel food cake to apple pie, and national anthem singing to auctioneer bid calling, Farm Show participants put forth their best for everyone to enjoy.
Foodies will love the competitions at the PA Preferred Stage, including an Army vs. Navy (or Coast Guard) and Iron Chef-style cook-offs. Participants utilize assigned ingredients to whip up something (hopefully) delicious in a limited amount of time, all right before you on stage as hosted by charismatic MC’s. Learn the criteria and watch as judges sample the submissions and choose their winner.
The Army vs. Coast Guard cook-off
Meeting the People of the Ag Industry
Hardworking farmers and makers, so often behind the scenes, have a moment to shine at Farm Show. While we see and enjoy the fruits of their labor, we don’t always get to interact directly with farmers and food producers. With the feel of an enormous farmers market, Farm Show allows consumers and producers the opportunity to talk, share and engage with each other.
The Ox Dynasty Pennsylvania Hickory Syrup team
It also allows agricultural experts to share their trade with the general population. Farm Show visitors can learn so much, whether through presentations by agricultural superstars like Temple Grandin, countless specialty displays, or cooking demos by local PA chefs presenting on the PA Preferred Stage. Farmers and makers teach us incredible, niche skills like how to make ice cream, tractor pull or sheer a sheep.
Temple Grandin speaking at the PA Farm Show
Cute Animals Galore
It’s animal overload at Farm Show, and we’re not mad about it. From fluffy little rabbits to 800-lb cattle, it feels like a livestock zoo.
Enjoy a range of experiences, from getting up close and personal with the animals, to watching the wonders of nature from a safe distance. The Baby Goat Snuggling area by Steinmetz Family Farm is a huge draw, with over 100 baby goats swarming and snuggling with delighted children, teens and adults. For a more Nat Geo-esque experience, head to the The Calving Corner to watch dairy cows give birth and the newborn calves sometimes standing upright within their first hour of life. It’s a veritable barber shop in the North and Northwest Halls, where you’ll hear the buzz of cows getting fresh haircuts nearly around the clock.
Other animals to check out include alpaca, rabbits, fish, chickens and horses of all sizes.
The Food
One of the biggest reason to love Farm Show is, of course, all of the food. Eating your way through Farm Show is a major endeavor. The must-haves like PA Dairymen milkshakes, potato donuts and cheese cubes are filling, delicious and can require waiting in a hefty line (it’s worth it). There are two primary areas for grabbing a bite: the Food Court in the GIANT Exposition Hall and in the Main Hall, though vendors are set up throughout the center.
We also love learning about new and unique makers. Ox Dynasty PA Hickory Syrup made with shagbark hickory, Cynful Bliss alcohol infused desserts, Hempzels high-protein hemp pretzels and On Point Adventure Foods’ freeze dried products are all examples of the interesting and inventive food products you’ll find.
Plus, the PA staples abound: mushroom dishes, maple syrup, pieorgies, pretzels, cider, funnel cake and more are just waiting for you to enjoy at the next Farm Show.
Tell us: what’s your favorite thing about Farm Show? Let us know in the comments, or join the conversation on our Facebook and Instagram pages.
- Army vs. Coast Guard cook-off photo: Leigh Green
- All other photos: Alan L. Johnson Photography
