Tag: Pennsylvania Farm Show

 

Update 3:43 p.m. 8/19/20: This story has been updated to include comments from the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association.

The 2021 PA Farm Show will be held virtually to safeguard against COVID-19, state officials announced Wednesday.

“Rather than an in-person Farm Show, we will celebrate Pennsylvania agriculture virtually for 2021 as we prepare for a productive future,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding told reporters in a Wednesday morning press call.

The virtual event will take place on the originally planned dates, Jan. 9 – 16, Redding said. The “tough decision” to move to a virtual exposition was made to keep the public safe while paying tribute to a crucial Pennsylvania sector, Redding said. Officials are hopeful they can use the social disruption caused by the pandemic as an opportunity to innovate the more than century-old Farm Show into the virtual space.

The theme for the 2021 virtual Farm Show will be “Cultivating Tomorrow,” focusing on agriculture literacy and the interconnectedness of the commonwealth’s food chain, which has been disrupted by the economic impacts of the novel coronavirus, Agriculture Department and Farm Show officials said.

“Through ‘Cultivating Tomorrow,’ we’ll tell this story through technology as we envision and cultivate a prosperous, thriving future together,” said Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex Executive Director Sharon Myers. “We have not lost sight of what this industry means to Pennsylvania, in fact, this pandemic has highlighted our reliance on it. The show will go on, just as agriculture has persevered.”

Redding said the show will highlight the crucial yet precarious role food supply chains play in daily life, and the resilience and innovation of Pennsylvania farmers, which have become “crystal clear” during the pandemic.

“It’s a tough decision and one we did not take lightly, understanding the Farm Show’s important role in our society, our history, it’s unique to Pennsylvania,” he said. “It’s how many of us mark time in our year. But we also recognize this is the right thing to do. So while this field may lie fallow in January, we are cultivating tomorrow.”

The annual Farm Show is recognized as the largest agricultural exposition under one roof in the country, with nearly 6,000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits and 300 commercial exhibits every year. A point of pride for the commonwealth, the Farm Show showcases an industry that employs nearly half a million people and contributes $185 billion to the state’s economy every year, according to the Farm Show’s website.

The Farm Show raises funds each year for philanthropic projects like “Fill a Glass with Hope,” the country’s first statewide charitable milk donation program, and agriculture scholarships for college students pursuing careers in farming.

Agriculture Department officials say it’s unclear how the more than century-old tradition will take place in the virtual sphere, without in-person events and popular food items to draw hundreds of thousands of attendants each year. Details of the virtual show, from holding competitions to showcasing a food sculpture, will be announced as they unfold over the coming weeks, department officials said.

Dave Smith, executive director of the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association, said in a statement released later Wednesday that the Palmyra-based trade group is “eager to explore virtual opportunities with agricultural partners,” although he’s disappointed the state needed to make such a difficult decision.

Smith asked Farm Show attendants for “assistance” as the dairy industry explores new ways to offer products and to support farmers.

“Through partnerships with fans and community organizations, we can raise money for our charitable projects by selling our delicious milkshakes at other venues,” Smith said. “And, hopefully soon, we will have more announcements about where you can purchase and sample the delicious dairy products we feature at the PA Farm Show.”