December 30, 2025 • 30 mins
“Everything you always love and some great new surprises, too are all part of this year's Pennsylvania Farm Show, which takes place from January 10th through the 17th at the Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg. Join us as we chat about this year’s theme, “Growing a Nation,” and how our farmers play a vital role in feeding communities across the country.” Plan Your Visit
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I'm Sylvia Moss.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
This is in Sight, a presentation of iHeartMedia, where we
really do care about our local communities and all our
listeners who live here. Oh my gosh, my Christmas wishes
have come to I got some good news for you,
and I I got a little bit of bad news.
And the good news, well, actually it's great news. In
less than a week, it's the one hundred and tenth
(00:21):
Pennsylvania Farm Show. It runs from January tenth to the seventeenth.
That's the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg.
This year's theme is called growing a Nation. It's an
opportunity for all of us to learn how Pennsylvania farmers
play a vital role in feeding communities all across the country.
And it's also ties in several events that mark America's
(00:42):
two hundred and fiftieth Birthday celebration. Of course, this year
you're gonna find everything you always look forward to at
the farm Show. But boy boy, wait all you hear
what's going on here with the Scooper, My two buddies
that I count on every year.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Oh, I'm so glad. They're the highlight of my year.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
They're going to fill you in on the farm show,
and that's because nobody knows as much about farm show
as they do. The truly wonderful and amazing Sharon Myers
worked for almost forty years in the hospitality industry.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Most of us have come to know and.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Admire her because for a lot of those years, Sharon
was the face of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and
Expo Center, serving as its executive director. Earlier this year,
Sharon was appointed to the Joplin County Visitors Bureau as
their president and CEO. So that's a pretty big deal. Well,
this is going to bring me to the kind of
tough news something I hitted at the top of the program.
(01:33):
I just learned that our other guests who spent three
decades leaving the Pennsylvania Duringman's Association, Dave Smith, is going
to step away from that role and just tell me,
don't worry about it. It's going to take a little
time because we're looking for somebody pretty special. We get
we get to know everything that's happening this farm at
this year, at this farm show because of Sharon and Dave.
And I know Shan's going to agree with me when
(01:55):
I talk a little bit about that, Dave, She cheered
me on. Okay, let me tell you a little bit
about my buddy Dave. First of all, as a longtime
dairy farmer himself, Dave has successfully managed his own multi
generational family and dairy crop farm in Central PA, raising
heifers and farming over three hundred and fifty acres. Holy
don'ly Dave having been recognized as a top agricultural leader
(02:17):
in Pennsylvania for his impact on the state's number one industry.
And I told a lot of people about this. Dave
has testified before Congress about the plight of the American farmer.
He's led the Pennsylvania Daringman's Association through major growth and
modernization while serving on boards including the Pennsylvania Agriculture Discovery
Center and penn State agg Council.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
He is the creator Has.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Crane Claimed of fame and promoter of the iconic Pennsylvania
farm show Milkshakes that We're going to talk. It's become
a signature statewide tradition. And for David, I'm still waiting
for that chocolate peanut butter. If you're leaving, you pass
around the next guy. Dave drove nearly six million dollars,
don't laugh at me, and charitable support, industry programs and community.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Causes over the last ten or twelve years.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
And well, it's not really want to here's a couple
of examples of the filled Glass of Hope campaign that
everybody knows about, the Fresh Milk campaign for neighbors in need,
the Chooseberry, Choose Pennsylvania Dairy consumer education and awareness campaign,
the Pennsylvania Farm Bureaus Mobile Egg Education Lab that travels
all around the schools teaching kids about farming, the Pennsylvania
(03:26):
Dairy Princess, I haven't seen them for a while. And
promotion program, the FFA, the Future Farmers of America, and
school programs, Friends of Agriculture Foundation, and so many, so many,
so many more projects. And this is really what Dave,
I tell more people about you About this. Dave led
the efforts to provide over forty six million servings of
fresh milk to feeding Pennsylvania food banks. That is amazing.
(03:50):
He continues to oversee the expansion of the mobile Milkshake
truck program, bringing milkshakes to events all over the state.
And I know, Dave, for as humble as you are,
you are you're saying so just shut up, move on.
Okay you said that, right, Am I right?
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Sharon, Am I right?
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Yeah, this move on?
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Okay, cool?
Speaker 3 (04:06):
When I grow up?
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Yeah, don't we all don't.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Okay, here's something I want to start with, Dave. We've
all known, uh, the rough time Pennsylvania farmers.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Have had over the last year.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
How do you think attending the farm show is going
to help them?
Speaker 1 (04:22):
What do you think?
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Well, the dairy dairy industry in Pennsylvania has has its
highs and lows, and actually, you know, they have they
have some good years and uh uh it's very interesting
to me that they are as resilient as they are
because they're they're they're there to take care of their
animals and provide some really good quality food. So we're
very fortunate about having those dairy farms in Pennsylvania. In
(04:44):
fact that Pennsylvania has the second largest number of dairy
farms in the nation right here in Pennsylvania. So, uh,
the the economy of things, it varies, and I think
are our farmers are as I said, resilient. You know,
they're they're they're going to go with the flow. They're
going to manage their operation to the best of their
abilities and persevere.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Oh that's good news because that's one of the main
issues that I've been concerned about that I even want
to get the governor in here to talk about. I
haven't been able to do that yet. Sharon, my dear,
dear's dear Sharon. Everything's turned and we girls are taken over, right, Okay,
Now this year the farm Show is alls. So I
don't want to say we're taking over, but they're starting
to notice that we have your hands in a whole
(05:24):
lot more than people really think.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
We do.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Talk to us about how they're honoring women as farmers
at the farm Show.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
Yeah, so this year we're going to celebrate women in
agg You know, we've known for a long time that
you know, women make about eighty percent of all household decisions.
Speaker 5 (05:39):
Well, now they've.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
Determined that women grow about fifty percent of the country's food. Actually,
it's the world, it's not just our country, and that's
pretty incredible. And so with twenty twenty six being the
Year of Women in Agriculture, the Pennsylvania Farm Show really
wants to celebrate that. So there'll be a number of
educational sessions and seminars throughout the week, just different opportunities
for women to showcase what they've done and how much
(06:01):
they contribute to Pennsylvania agriculture.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
I would imagine it's an opportunity for young women out
there to also see there are opportunities not just for
the guys. Like Dave and I have talked about in
the past, there's a lot of things that women can
do in agriculture because they've proven they can do it.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
I think that's probably one of the highlights of Farm
Show is that so many people if you're if you
feel like you're disconnected from agriculture, it's simply because you
don't fully understand agriculture.
Speaker 5 (06:26):
There are so many jobs.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
That are related to agriculture that you just wouldn't think
belong you know, whether it be you know, food production,
whether it be you know it because the tractors now
run on you know, on computers like everything else. I mean,
there's just so many different facets of agriculture that you know,
create so many jobs, and you can learn about those
jobs at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
And what a job for the future, not just for women,
for men. Also, this is in Pennsylvania where it's such
a huge industry. If you can encourage some young person
to get into it, and it offers the same type
of jobs that a lot of the other why shouldn't
you do it right?
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Oh? Absolutely, Sharon's nailed it here about the careers in agriculture.
I think so many people when you talk about a
farm or agriculture, you think about the physical farm and
the livestock.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
You mean, like you're putting your wife out every morning
at like three thirty in the morning, get those get.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Those cows out there.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
So maybe some, maybe some, But but the point of
it is is that there's so many more career opportunities
outside of the farm related to production of food, and
and that's so important to all of us because you know,
we're all going to eat, and those career opportunities are
are vast. It's just as Sharon has said, it's it's
more than just that production on the farm, and there's
(07:42):
so many other opportunities.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
And there's a lot of big companies. I see a
lot of moving into Pennsylvania. What's that one it's over
in camp Hill. Uh, it was part of It wasn't
a d M. It was one of those big companies,
you know, like worldwide companies. They're moving into Pennsylvania more
so they're saying we need more people. These a big
agriculture and like they biotechnology companies, they really need these kids,
(08:07):
don't they.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Well it's great to hear that too, because there's a
lot of production of agriculture right here in Pennsylvania. But
we're so close to the food markets were the metropolitan
area is here in the Northeast. We're close to provide
our food and manufacture our food, so we have a
short distance of those lose large metropolitan areas, which is
(08:28):
very important for you know, our food supply chain.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Yeah, it's awesome. Okay, guys, we have a whole lot
to talk about. Let's I want to hit the newest
stuff first. Okay, first, Aaron, right, the food court, Well,
it opens. Food court opens on Friday.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
Right Friday, January nineteen, twelve o'clock and parking is free.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Okay, and you anybody can come into that, right Okay.
Isn't there something going.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
On for PA Preferred? But you got to.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Pay for that, that's something you got to get that.
There's a charge for that, right.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
Yes, the PA Preferred reception is Friday evening and that
is where you know, the Pennsylvania products created across the
across Pennsylvania are showcased, whether it be you know, mushrooms,
which is one of our favorites. Yeah, you know, even
to fish too, of course, a dairy. All the great
food that we produce here in Pennsylvania will be showcased
Friday night under the PEA Preferred Reception program.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Okay, now when does it?
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Doesn't Secretary of Agriculture and what day does he comment
with the Governor didn't they do their thing?
Speaker 4 (09:21):
Well, it varies every year depending on schedules. Typically they
are at the reception, and then we also have Public
Officials Day, which is on Wednesday. Public Officials Day is
you know, the Governor usually comes for that, the Secretary
and all the local elected.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
When's the day when they announced the isn't there a
young lady that's going to sing the national anthem?
Speaker 1 (09:38):
And everybody?
Speaker 2 (09:40):
It was a contest, right you did this last couple
of years us about that.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
Yeah, so it's called osay can you sing? And it's
a contest where you can actually send in a video
and they listen to you sing the national anthem because
not everybody can do that. It's it's such an amazing
gift and so then they select from the group of contestants.
They select one singer for every event, whether it be
opening ceremonies on Saturday morning, someone for the reception. They
(10:07):
do open every day with the national anthem each morning,
and so someone is dedicated to that. They'll have someone
sing a public officials day. So I think if my
account's correct, it's about twelve slots. Twelve different individuals get
to sing the national anthem during the week of farm Show.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Well, right up front, David is the reason why there's
the longest line at the farm show every year, and
that's those milkshakes.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Well, the Association has been doing milkshakes since nineteen fifty
three at the farm Show. It's really cool that some
of the things that we've done over the years to
draw some attention to the dairy industry around that, and
you mentioned them earlier. So we're happy to be there.
I think I'm just so thrilled with the people that
come back every year to help us. I think it's
(10:55):
an understated value of the people that we have there,
the volunteers and the employees that do that, because the
farm Show just thrives on a lot of volunteerism and
if there was ever a study made around how many
people it took to run the Pennsylvania Farm Show. I
think people would be just amazed at that. You know,
our association alone, we have a list of nearly five
(11:20):
hundred people that are there, you know, sporadically throughout the
week to help serve milkshakes.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Well, tell us about the new milkshake. What you're doing
for this year because of our anniverse.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Yeah, So next year we have the two hundred and
fiftieth anniversary of the of the United States. It's a
big deal. So it's kind of interesting because we've been
planning with the Cassandra Coleman, the executive director of the
America two fifty PA Organization, for We've been scheming a
little bit for probably almost two years now about what
we can do around the farm Show to introduce the
(11:53):
upcoming celebration, and we came up with the idea of
and first of all, I want to say too that
I think it is so important to us to recognize
that agriculture was so much a part of the growth
of our nation two hundred and fifty years ago and
continues to be. So that's just a really cool aspect.
It happened right here in Pennsylvania. It started right here
(12:15):
in Pennsylvania, which is so impactful. We had so many
people that were farmers at that time, so we wanted
to be part of this celebration the association, so we
partnered with America two fifty PA and the Tourism Burea
to create a red, white and blue milkshake flight in
honor of our nation's birth two hundred and fifty years ago.
(12:37):
So we do offer our red strawberry milkshake, a white
vanilla milkshake, and then also we've done a blue raspberry
milkshake that we're going to serve at the Pennsylvania Farm
Show in addition to our regular chocolate. So we're gonna
have a lot of fun with our milkshake flight with
America two to fifty PA to kick off the gear
at the farm show with Agriculture Sure and the celebration
(13:01):
of our nation.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
You know, you guys, that's it. It's the milkshake. Everybody
talks about being talking about three years. But your association
has other things they're selling for, you know, as part
of the food menu at the farm show.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
Well, right, you know that the food Core is a
great system that's put in place many years ago where
we have all the many of the commodity groups represented
in Pennsylvania and they sell the foods that they represent,
and our foods are obviously our milkshakes, but we do
deep fried mozzarella cheese cubes, some soft served ice cream,
and some really great grilled cheese sandwiches. So you know,
(13:37):
we're representing dairy industry and we try to put out
the best product that we can.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Well, sharingman, we were talking a little bit before we
started this that the mushroom farms, mushrooms are this is
the mushroom.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
Capital RT right Pennsylvania.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
People don't know that, but they have some big deal
things going on as far as mushroom this year.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Talk to us about that, Gerald.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
Yeah, I'm very, very excited.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
And mushrooms are the leading industry in Pennsylvania agriculture and industry,
or we lead the mushroom industry, I should say in Pennsylvania.
So they have two new products this year. One is
the mushroom coffee. It's very I'm very excited about it.
I'm one of those I have I have not tried
this particular brand, but I'm a mushroom coffee drinker so
(14:19):
really excited about it. It's just lots of health benefits,
lots of antioxidants. So they're going to serve it at
farm shows.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
That's going to say can you get that at the
farm show? I wonder, can you buy it?
Speaker 4 (14:29):
Yes, they are gonna have it a farm show. And
then they're also doing a mushroom. It's not fajita, is
what is called the breakfast burrito, which you'll be able
to get every morning, which is a great addition because
we definitely lack some bread breakfast sandwiches there, so I
think that'll be very popular. And then they'll have all
their regular you know, usuals as well, blended burgers and
(14:52):
oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
It blows me away the way they come up with
some new menu on the our item on the menu
that is a combination the something in mushroom or this mushroom,
and it's really surprising and really really delicious for those
people who put their nose up at mushrooms. Sometimes you
don't even know you're eating a mushroom. It doesn't how
about a day.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Oh extually, the mushrooms are excellent. I really enjoy I
think more people should try it.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
Londen Berger is a good start because you don't even
know for sure that you're eating it there.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Talk to me about booze. There's a competition when you
guys just jump in. They're having a competition. We're going
to showcase Pennsylvania's crafted spirits, gin things like that.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
What is this competition about.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
Yeah, so we've had wine for a long time at
the farm Show. We introduced cider a few years after,
and we then we had beer as well, and this
year will be spirits.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
There's a lot of spirits.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
Being made in Pennsylvania and we have some really good
committee members that wanted to bring it to the forefront
and so they'll be able to run their competition. It
is a competition. First, there's no prizes given. They're not
allowed to sell it or anything like that. Okay, once
they get you know, it's a process. You have to
you know, display, you know, have the contest one year,
(16:08):
display one year, and then you get to sell an
icy So you can buy wine, beer and cider at
farm Show at this point, but spirits this year will
simply be on display for a contest.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
There are a couple of celebrities that are gonna be
there this year.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Brian can't you. I'll mispronounce his names. Shands you you better.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Talk about Is it both Cinary Connection? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Yeah, Dave talked to us about that. You know about that.
There's like Jen Heasley, she's on Cooking with the Pros
on CBS twenty one. And I'm not familiar with this gentleman,
but I'm sure a lot of people are.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
Brian will Tagio, Am I saying it right? He's a chef.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
I think you are saying it right, and he's on
television and he's a very popular cheft. In fact, I
have a couple of my team members that are just
excited to have him in person, and they were gonna
they want to have time off so they can go
to the Culinary Connection during the farm show to you know,
while while he's here.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Well, you know, a lot of people will watch those
food channels, so I'm sure a lot of them know
all about him.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
How about it.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
I think he has a lot of groupies.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Oh is that right?
Speaker 3 (17:07):
I think he does.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
Okay, The Culinary Connection has done a good job of
getting celebrities over the past few years, and it's really
grown in popularity for sure.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
You know, we talked about how we're going to incorporate
the two hundred and fiftieth Celebration of America. They're going
to be they're going to be quite a peep quite
a number of products, food and otherwise that will demonstrate
that Sharon tell us about that.
Speaker 4 (17:32):
Yeah, So there's everything from the two fifty apron contest,
you know, to quilts Christmas tree growers are incorporating some
design elements and their wreathmaking beekeepers will have something.
Speaker 5 (17:44):
You know.
Speaker 4 (17:45):
So we we've strongly encouraged as many of the competitive
events committees to embrace the two fifty and they're doing it.
So there'll be lots of competitions. We as the Visitors
Bureau are actually working with two fifty as well as
the Friends of farm Show Foundation, and of course you
know Heidisvanovek, the executive director at the Pennsylvania Farm Show
(18:06):
Complex now to develop.
Speaker 5 (18:07):
The ag Explore app.
Speaker 4 (18:09):
The ag Explorer program has been in existence for a
very long time and it's typically you come in, you
get a map, it shows where all the learning stations
are across the complex. It's a way to navigate the
complex and learn along the way. And so this year
we're digitalizing it. We're actually we have an app. You
go in, you can click on the QR code at
any of the ag Explorer stations, download the app, and
(18:33):
as you go to each ag Explorer station, whether it
be learning about bees, learning about dairy, learning about beef whool,
you can actually it checks you in. It's Geofen, so
it will check you in and you then earn prizes.
Two fifty is sponsoring the first couple thousand. Anyone who
checks in at least fifteen locations will get a goodie
(18:55):
bag from America to fifty and then also Dairy Farmers
of America is the larger sponsorship sponsor of the program
and they will be giving away winners at the prizes
at the end.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
Of the week.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Well you have an app like that. You've been last
time you were in to talk about Visitors Bureau and
what you're all the all the incredible things going on
here in our area. You have an app like that
that identifies is it artwork?
Speaker 5 (19:18):
Well, we do.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
It's called our Trails and Experience app, and we do
anything from you know, experience, hiking, biking. You know, there's
there's the outdoor component. We have an arts arts district.
We have a trail there and so it was a
really good opportunity for us in my new role, to
really help UH grow the a Explore program because we
(19:40):
know so many people like you know, prizes and they
want to have that gamified thing on their phone. So
we were able to help create the Explorer program on
a digital version within form shows.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
Am I missing anything that's new? I'm sitting here thinking
about it. I wonder if you mentioned some of that.
I mean, there's plenty of new stuff there, but at
the top of my mind, I can't think about that.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
So all that on, hold, sharm, are you going to
say so?
Speaker 5 (20:01):
I was just going to say.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
We do have the rodeo this year, which we've had
PRCA has been there for a number of years. They
are adding a Friday eleven am show this year because
attendance has been so well, so good that people were
starting to not be able to attend because they were
sold out early, and so they added an eleven am
Friday show for families, which is great. You can bring
your kids, you know, homeschoolers that kind of thing, attend
(20:23):
the rodeo during the day and then they will still
have the Friday evening show as well.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
I love that you still have things like the little
peeps that kids can and Dave the calving corner still
have that TuS.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
But that's absolutely and it's just been breathtaking to see
the success of that. You know, we have we have
some very committed dairy farmers in Pennsylvania that have have
allowed the you know, to they have they have committed
to bring some pregnant cows into the farm show and
if the timing was right, there is opportunity that the
people might be able to see the birth of the CAF.
(20:55):
The miracle of the birth of CAF been very popular.
It's been started about eight years ago. And you know,
when we first started, I really thought that we would
run out of farms you know that would be committed
enough to do that, because it is a real commitment
for our farmers to do that and travel and so forth.
And sure, you know, to date, we continue to get
(21:18):
new farms involved in this because they're committed to helping
to share that miracle birth with with other people. And
it's very significant to me that they're willing to do
that and teach people and have a conversation about people
about what goes on in the farm and what happens on.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
The Farmer about real life. I agree with that. That
cheap the shawl is still on, right, Sharon. It's like
years ago that sort of the farm show was no much.
Sheep the shaw, Sheep the shaw.
Speaker 5 (21:47):
Yeah, it's very popular.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
Yeah, okay.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Every year they had that was it a thousand pounds
of butter that somebody brings in.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
It's but it's not larger, it's butter.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
Every year they come up with the new a new sculpture,
and that's really cool.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
You guys don't have any idea.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Right, they don't tell anybody.
Speaker 5 (22:06):
Okay, we're hoping for two fifty, but who knows.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Oh that would be cool, wouldn't it? Wow? Wow?
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Okay, they have a mullet competition. I have no cool idea.
What what there?
Speaker 1 (22:17):
When I think a mall and I think of the hair,
do is that.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
That's where it is? Yeah? So we we got the idea.
Speaker 5 (22:24):
Number. I think this is probably the third year.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
You're right.
Speaker 5 (22:28):
Yeah. And one of the fairs.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (22:32):
Some of the formship leadership goes to the International Association
affairs and events, and they were talking about this mullet contest,
and you know, we thought, hey, why not try it?
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Right?
Speaker 4 (22:44):
The secretary at the time was like, why are we
having a mullet contest? I said, well, you can't educate
them on agriculture unless you get them to come to
the show. And this is a great opportunity to get
them to come to the show. It's a different demographic
and so we did and it blew up.
Speaker 5 (22:58):
It was very very popular.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
I'm only I mean more contestants than we actually could track.
So yeah, it's been very very popular. And it is
I mean if you if you lived in the eighties,
you know.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
It's children and adults too, so it's a mix.
Speaker 5 (23:13):
All ages, all ages, all ages participation.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
How do they decide who has the best mullet?
Speaker 5 (23:18):
I mean, we have judges.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
Maybe you could be a mullet judge. Something that would
be fun.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Maybe I could show up with the mullet.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
How about that. I think it's open to you if
you were to try it.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
He speaking about other turkeys.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
There's a turkey contest that seems to be picking up
speed over the last couple of years with the young kids, right.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Yes, so last year the turkey showmanship competition really started.
Another one that you know, the Farmship leaders farms show
Leadership borrowed from another fair, and you kind of, if
you've ever watched them show swine where you have a
stick and you kind of lead them through turkeys, kind
(24:01):
of do the same thing.
Speaker 5 (24:02):
And so there was a.
Speaker 4 (24:02):
Sponsor they actually give the kids a free turkey and
then and it was and then they raise it and
they come to farm show and they walk it around
and they put it in the show ring and all
those great things.
Speaker 5 (24:13):
And it's an opportunity I can speak to last year.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
I can't speak to the participants this year, but last
year with a really great thing was a number of
the kids that participated were not living on farms, were
not kids that had really ever been exposed to agriculture before.
And so it's you know, it's a it's a bird.
It's small, it's not you know, you don't need a
barn for beef or you know, something larger. So it
(24:37):
gave these kids an opportunity to learn about agriculture and
participate in farm show in an area they would not
have fought.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
What happens to the turkey when it's all when they're all,
you know, everything's done.
Speaker 1 (24:47):
They do they get sell the turkey? Or does it
what happens.
Speaker 5 (24:51):
Yeah, the top winners do go into the livestock auction.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Okay, kay, I remember when we were kids, it was
Easter time and the remember when I don't know if you,
I'm older than you guys, but they used to give
like parents used to get these little peeps, colored peeps.
And I remember somebody gave my brother and my two
brothers and I one and my oh, my one brother
he used to try to make his fly, and my
but first two died. My brother who was the wilder
(25:16):
one of the three of us. He had lost almost
all kinds of funds with this peep and it got struck,
getting bigger and bigger, and my dad said, we got
to give this to the farmer because you know again,
well then the farmer did his number on it and
brought it back and gave it to my dad. Oh,
my little brother cried and cried and cried like, yeah,
(25:39):
it's funny how the young kids, dave you been a
farmer for a long time.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
Kids get attached to the animals, don't they check?
Speaker 3 (25:46):
Yeah, well, you know, and that's a that's an item
for the farm show too. They do get attached and
then and the livestock sale. They don't go home to
the farm, you know, they get they get sold. And
I have seen you know a lot of a lot
of the youth that have spent you know a lot
of time training that animal, you know, for the showmanship
contests and things like that, and they do become attached
(26:08):
to those animals, and it's it's a kind of a heartfelt,
you know, feeling for those folks when when their separation happens.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
Wow, well, Sharon, you know what, I know how important
agriculture is in Pennsylvania if by anyone anyone else, you
guys have taught me that. I know that the dairy
industry alone provides like close to fifty thousand jobs, right, Dave,
and generates almost twelve billion dollars of revenue for the stake.
That's just a dairy industry.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
That's right. You know. The whole wagon industry is in
over one hundred billion dollars, but the dairy and that
sector is is huge in Pennsylvania.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
So sharing what does all this with the farm show
being here for eight days, what's going to what does
it always mean to our local.
Speaker 4 (26:52):
Economy, local economy? The Pennsylvania Farms Show generates about seventy
million dollars in economic impacts. You're talking fifty six hundred jobs.
You're talking, you know, thirty five hotels see business from
the annual farm show, thirty four thousand room nights. It's
a big deal and we appreciate being part of that because,
(27:12):
you know, with agriculture being the number one industry in
the state and tourism being number two, what a great partnership.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
Absolutely, and you know.
Speaker 4 (27:20):
Again, agriculture six hundred thousand jobs in the state, tourism
about five hundred thousand. So it's a great opportunity for
us to you know, promote the state's number one in
two industry and to educate people along the way. And
we hope that people really truly understand the impact. You know,
there's nothing else banging on the door to come in
(27:41):
in January, and so every business we now have a
program called placer AI that we actually collect some data
from and we know that you know, there's one hundred
and fifty plus businesses that actually see business as a
result of farm show, people coming going, you know, gas
being bought, the tax revenue that's generated from people selling products,
(28:03):
and so let's.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Do this year round.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
Yeah, absolutely, every day exactly can you handle that day?
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Absolutely, we'll make it work.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
Now, both of you guys have been doing this like
for years and years. When you think back over the years,
tell me, is there anything really hysterical now you know
them all for hysteria, anything funny over the years that
you can remember that's happened, or anything that really sticks it.
Maybe it doesn't have to be it's something that touched you.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
Something that impactful for me was I think in the
nineties there was a blizzard that happened during the farm show,
and I think things closed down to the point where,
you know, there were some people that stayed at the
farm show and nobody could get anywhere. But it was
kind of unique and very neat to see how people
stepped up to help other people in those kind of environments.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
Yeah, how it sharing You were going to say something, well,
I would just say, you know, farm show in general
being you know, I've been so blow for the last
twenty years.
Speaker 5 (29:01):
I started in sales selling.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
The farm show complex, and then of course as the
executive director and it's a facility that gets in your
blood and it's great. Everybody works together for the common
good that no one look thinks about themselves and I
really appreciate just everybody bringing it together.
Speaker 1 (29:16):
I'm so glad you guys come in. It's always wonderful.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
It's one hundred and tenth Pennsylvania Farm Show January nineteenth
to tenth of the seventeenth at the Pennsylvania Farmshow Complex
in Harrisburg. A mission is free, parkins fifteen bucks. Where
do we get more information about the Pennsylvania Dairyman's Association.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
Dave Padairyman's dot com.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
And about the farm Show Sharon.
Speaker 5 (29:37):
PA Farm Show Complex dot gop.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
I love you guys, I'm sylving them off.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Listen inside every Sunday on our tan iheartstations there any
time on your favorite podcast step.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
Thanks so much for listening. See at the farm Show
Hi, I'm Sylvia Moss.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
This is in Sight, a presentation of iHeartMedia, where we
really do care about our local communities and all our
listeners who live here. Oh my gosh, my Christmas wishes
have come to I got some good news for you,
and I I got a little bit of bad news.
And the good news, well, actually it's great news. In
less than a week, it's the one hundred and tenth
(00:21):
Pennsylvania Farm Show. It runs from January tenth to the seventeenth.
That's the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg.
This year's theme is called growing a Nation. It's an
opportunity for all of us to learn how Pennsylvania farmers
play a vital role in feeding communities all across the country.
And it's also ties in several events that mark America's
(00:42):
two hundred and fiftieth Birthday celebration. Of course, this year
you're gonna find everything you always look forward to at
the farm Show. But boy boy, wait all you hear
what's going on here with the Scooper, My two buddies
that I count on every year.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Oh, I'm so glad. They're the highlight of my year.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
They're going to fill you in on the farm show,
and that's because nobody knows as much about farm show
as they do. The truly wonderful and amazing Sharon Myers
worked for almost forty years in the hospitality industry.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Most of us have come to know and.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Admire her because for a lot of those years, Sharon
was the face of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and
Expo Center, serving as its executive director. Earlier this year,
Sharon was appointed to the Joplin County Visitors Bureau as
their president and CEO. So that's a pretty big deal. Well,
this is going to bring me to the kind of
tough news something I hitted at the top of the program.
(01:33):
I just learned that our other guests who spent three
decades leaving the Pennsylvania Duringman's Association, Dave Smith, is going
to step away from that role and just tell me,
don't worry about it. It's going to take a little
time because we're looking for somebody pretty special. We get
we get to know everything that's happening this farm at
this year, at this farm show because of Sharon and Dave.
And I know Shan's going to agree with me when
(01:55):
I talk a little bit about that, Dave, She cheered
me on. Okay, let me tell you a little bit
about my buddy Dave. First of all, as a longtime
dairy farmer himself, Dave has successfully managed his own multi
generational family and dairy crop farm in Central PA, raising
heifers and farming over three hundred and fifty acres. Holy
don'ly Dave having been recognized as a top agricultural leader
(02:17):
in Pennsylvania for his impact on the state's number one industry.
And I told a lot of people about this. Dave
has testified before Congress about the plight of the American farmer.
He's led the Pennsylvania Daringman's Association through major growth and
modernization while serving on boards including the Pennsylvania Agriculture Discovery
Center and penn State agg Council.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
He is the creator Has.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Crane Claimed of fame and promoter of the iconic Pennsylvania
farm show Milkshakes that We're going to talk. It's become
a signature statewide tradition. And for David, I'm still waiting
for that chocolate peanut butter. If you're leaving, you pass
around the next guy. Dave drove nearly six million dollars,
don't laugh at me, and charitable support, industry programs and community.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Causes over the last ten or twelve years.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
And well, it's not really want to here's a couple
of examples of the filled Glass of Hope campaign that
everybody knows about, the Fresh Milk campaign for neighbors in need,
the Chooseberry, Choose Pennsylvania Dairy consumer education and awareness campaign,
the Pennsylvania Farm Bureaus Mobile Egg Education Lab that travels
all around the schools teaching kids about farming, the Pennsylvania
(03:26):
Dairy Princess, I haven't seen them for a while. And
promotion program, the FFA, the Future Farmers of America, and
school programs, Friends of Agriculture Foundation, and so many, so many,
so many more projects. And this is really what Dave,
I tell more people about you About this. Dave led
the efforts to provide over forty six million servings of
fresh milk to feeding Pennsylvania food banks. That is amazing.
(03:50):
He continues to oversee the expansion of the mobile Milkshake
truck program, bringing milkshakes to events all over the state.
And I know, Dave, for as humble as you are,
you are you're saying so just shut up, move on.
Okay you said that, right, Am I right?
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Sharon, Am I right?
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Yeah, this move on?
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Okay, cool?
Speaker 3 (04:06):
When I grow up?
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Yeah, don't we all don't.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Okay, here's something I want to start with, Dave. We've
all known, uh, the rough time Pennsylvania farmers.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Have had over the last year.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
How do you think attending the farm show is going
to help them?
Speaker 1 (04:22):
What do you think?
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Well, the dairy dairy industry in Pennsylvania has has its
highs and lows, and actually, you know, they have they
have some good years and uh uh it's very interesting
to me that they are as resilient as they are
because they're they're they're there to take care of their
animals and provide some really good quality food. So we're
very fortunate about having those dairy farms in Pennsylvania. In
(04:44):
fact that Pennsylvania has the second largest number of dairy
farms in the nation right here in Pennsylvania. So, uh,
the the economy of things, it varies, and I think
are our farmers are as I said, resilient. You know,
they're they're they're going to go with the flow. They're
going to manage their operation to the best of their
abilities and persevere.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Oh that's good news because that's one of the main
issues that I've been concerned about that I even want
to get the governor in here to talk about. I
haven't been able to do that yet. Sharon, my dear,
dear's dear Sharon. Everything's turned and we girls are taken over, right, Okay,
Now this year the farm Show is alls. So I
don't want to say we're taking over, but they're starting
to notice that we have your hands in a whole
(05:24):
lot more than people really think.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
We do.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Talk to us about how they're honoring women as farmers
at the farm Show.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
Yeah, so this year we're going to celebrate women in
agg You know, we've known for a long time that
you know, women make about eighty percent of all household decisions.
Speaker 5 (05:39):
Well, now they've.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
Determined that women grow about fifty percent of the country's food. Actually,
it's the world, it's not just our country, and that's
pretty incredible. And so with twenty twenty six being the
Year of Women in Agriculture, the Pennsylvania Farm Show really
wants to celebrate that. So there'll be a number of
educational sessions and seminars throughout the week, just different opportunities
for women to showcase what they've done and how much
(06:01):
they contribute to Pennsylvania agriculture.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
I would imagine it's an opportunity for young women out
there to also see there are opportunities not just for
the guys. Like Dave and I have talked about in
the past, there's a lot of things that women can
do in agriculture because they've proven they can do it.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
I think that's probably one of the highlights of Farm
Show is that so many people if you're if you
feel like you're disconnected from agriculture, it's simply because you
don't fully understand agriculture.
Speaker 5 (06:26):
There are so many jobs.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
That are related to agriculture that you just wouldn't think
belong you know, whether it be you know, food production,
whether it be you know it because the tractors now
run on you know, on computers like everything else. I mean,
there's just so many different facets of agriculture that you know,
create so many jobs, and you can learn about those
jobs at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
And what a job for the future, not just for women,
for men. Also, this is in Pennsylvania where it's such
a huge industry. If you can encourage some young person
to get into it, and it offers the same type
of jobs that a lot of the other why shouldn't
you do it right?
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Oh? Absolutely, Sharon's nailed it here about the careers in agriculture.
I think so many people when you talk about a
farm or agriculture, you think about the physical farm and
the livestock.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
You mean, like you're putting your wife out every morning
at like three thirty in the morning, get those get.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Those cows out there.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
So maybe some, maybe some, But but the point of
it is is that there's so many more career opportunities
outside of the farm related to production of food, and
and that's so important to all of us because you know,
we're all going to eat, and those career opportunities are
are vast. It's just as Sharon has said, it's it's
more than just that production on the farm, and there's
(07:42):
so many other opportunities.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
And there's a lot of big companies. I see a
lot of moving into Pennsylvania. What's that one it's over
in camp Hill. Uh, it was part of It wasn't
a d M. It was one of those big companies,
you know, like worldwide companies. They're moving into Pennsylvania more
so they're saying we need more people. These a big
agriculture and like they biotechnology companies, they really need these kids,
(08:07):
don't they.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Well it's great to hear that too, because there's a
lot of production of agriculture right here in Pennsylvania. But
we're so close to the food markets were the metropolitan
area is here in the Northeast. We're close to provide
our food and manufacture our food, so we have a
short distance of those lose large metropolitan areas, which is
(08:28):
very important for you know, our food supply chain.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Yeah, it's awesome. Okay, guys, we have a whole lot
to talk about. Let's I want to hit the newest
stuff first. Okay, first, Aaron, right, the food court, Well,
it opens. Food court opens on Friday.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
Right Friday, January nineteen, twelve o'clock and parking is free.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Okay, and you anybody can come into that, right Okay.
Isn't there something going.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
On for PA Preferred? But you got to.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Pay for that, that's something you got to get that.
There's a charge for that, right.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
Yes, the PA Preferred reception is Friday evening and that
is where you know, the Pennsylvania products created across the
across Pennsylvania are showcased, whether it be you know, mushrooms,
which is one of our favorites. Yeah, you know, even
to fish too, of course, a dairy. All the great
food that we produce here in Pennsylvania will be showcased
Friday night under the PEA Preferred Reception program.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Okay, now when does it?
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Doesn't Secretary of Agriculture and what day does he comment
with the Governor didn't they do their thing?
Speaker 4 (09:21):
Well, it varies every year depending on schedules. Typically they
are at the reception, and then we also have Public
Officials Day, which is on Wednesday. Public Officials Day is
you know, the Governor usually comes for that, the Secretary
and all the local elected.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
When's the day when they announced the isn't there a
young lady that's going to sing the national anthem?
Speaker 1 (09:38):
And everybody?
Speaker 2 (09:40):
It was a contest, right you did this last couple
of years us about that.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
Yeah, so it's called osay can you sing? And it's
a contest where you can actually send in a video
and they listen to you sing the national anthem because
not everybody can do that. It's it's such an amazing
gift and so then they select from the group of contestants.
They select one singer for every event, whether it be
opening ceremonies on Saturday morning, someone for the reception. They
(10:07):
do open every day with the national anthem each morning,
and so someone is dedicated to that. They'll have someone
sing a public officials day. So I think if my
account's correct, it's about twelve slots. Twelve different individuals get
to sing the national anthem during the week of farm Show.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Well, right up front, David is the reason why there's
the longest line at the farm show every year, and
that's those milkshakes.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Well, the Association has been doing milkshakes since nineteen fifty
three at the farm Show. It's really cool that some
of the things that we've done over the years to
draw some attention to the dairy industry around that, and
you mentioned them earlier. So we're happy to be there.
I think I'm just so thrilled with the people that
come back every year to help us. I think it's
(10:55):
an understated value of the people that we have there,
the volunteers and the employees that do that, because the
farm Show just thrives on a lot of volunteerism and
if there was ever a study made around how many
people it took to run the Pennsylvania Farm Show. I
think people would be just amazed at that. You know,
our association alone, we have a list of nearly five
(11:20):
hundred people that are there, you know, sporadically throughout the
week to help serve milkshakes.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Well, tell us about the new milkshake. What you're doing
for this year because of our anniverse.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Yeah, So next year we have the two hundred and
fiftieth anniversary of the of the United States. It's a
big deal. So it's kind of interesting because we've been
planning with the Cassandra Coleman, the executive director of the
America two fifty PA Organization, for We've been scheming a
little bit for probably almost two years now about what
we can do around the farm Show to introduce the
(11:53):
upcoming celebration, and we came up with the idea of
and first of all, I want to say too that
I think it is so important to us to recognize
that agriculture was so much a part of the growth
of our nation two hundred and fifty years ago and
continues to be. So that's just a really cool aspect.
It happened right here in Pennsylvania. It started right here
(12:15):
in Pennsylvania, which is so impactful. We had so many
people that were farmers at that time, so we wanted
to be part of this celebration the association, so we
partnered with America two fifty PA and the Tourism Burea
to create a red, white and blue milkshake flight in
honor of our nation's birth two hundred and fifty years ago.
(12:37):
So we do offer our red strawberry milkshake, a white
vanilla milkshake, and then also we've done a blue raspberry
milkshake that we're going to serve at the Pennsylvania Farm
Show in addition to our regular chocolate. So we're gonna
have a lot of fun with our milkshake flight with
America two to fifty PA to kick off the gear
at the farm show with Agriculture Sure and the celebration
(13:01):
of our nation.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
You know, you guys, that's it. It's the milkshake. Everybody
talks about being talking about three years. But your association
has other things they're selling for, you know, as part
of the food menu at the farm show.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
Well, right, you know that the food Core is a
great system that's put in place many years ago where
we have all the many of the commodity groups represented
in Pennsylvania and they sell the foods that they represent,
and our foods are obviously our milkshakes, but we do
deep fried mozzarella cheese cubes, some soft served ice cream,
and some really great grilled cheese sandwiches. So you know,
(13:37):
we're representing dairy industry and we try to put out
the best product that we can.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Well, sharingman, we were talking a little bit before we
started this that the mushroom farms, mushrooms are this is
the mushroom.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
Capital RT right Pennsylvania.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
People don't know that, but they have some big deal
things going on as far as mushroom this year.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Talk to us about that, Gerald.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
Yeah, I'm very, very excited.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
And mushrooms are the leading industry in Pennsylvania agriculture and industry,
or we lead the mushroom industry, I should say in Pennsylvania.
So they have two new products this year. One is
the mushroom coffee. It's very I'm very excited about it.
I'm one of those I have I have not tried
this particular brand, but I'm a mushroom coffee drinker so
(14:19):
really excited about it. It's just lots of health benefits,
lots of antioxidants. So they're going to serve it at
farm shows.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
That's going to say can you get that at the
farm show? I wonder, can you buy it?
Speaker 4 (14:29):
Yes, they are gonna have it a farm show. And
then they're also doing a mushroom. It's not fajita, is
what is called the breakfast burrito, which you'll be able
to get every morning, which is a great addition because
we definitely lack some bread breakfast sandwiches there, so I
think that'll be very popular. And then they'll have all
their regular you know, usuals as well, blended burgers and
(14:52):
oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
It blows me away the way they come up with
some new menu on the our item on the menu
that is a combination the something in mushroom or this mushroom,
and it's really surprising and really really delicious for those
people who put their nose up at mushrooms. Sometimes you
don't even know you're eating a mushroom. It doesn't how
about a day.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Oh extually, the mushrooms are excellent. I really enjoy I
think more people should try it.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
Londen Berger is a good start because you don't even
know for sure that you're eating it there.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Talk to me about booze. There's a competition when you
guys just jump in. They're having a competition. We're going
to showcase Pennsylvania's crafted spirits, gin things like that.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
What is this competition about.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
Yeah, so we've had wine for a long time at
the farm Show. We introduced cider a few years after,
and we then we had beer as well, and this
year will be spirits.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
There's a lot of spirits.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
Being made in Pennsylvania and we have some really good
committee members that wanted to bring it to the forefront
and so they'll be able to run their competition. It
is a competition. First, there's no prizes given. They're not
allowed to sell it or anything like that. Okay, once
they get you know, it's a process. You have to
you know, display, you know, have the contest one year,
(16:08):
display one year, and then you get to sell an
icy So you can buy wine, beer and cider at
farm Show at this point, but spirits this year will
simply be on display for a contest.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
There are a couple of celebrities that are gonna be
there this year.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Brian can't you. I'll mispronounce his names. Shands you you better.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Talk about Is it both Cinary Connection? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Yeah, Dave talked to us about that. You know about that.
There's like Jen Heasley, she's on Cooking with the Pros
on CBS twenty one. And I'm not familiar with this gentleman,
but I'm sure a lot of people are.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
Brian will Tagio, Am I saying it right? He's a chef.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
I think you are saying it right, and he's on
television and he's a very popular cheft. In fact, I
have a couple of my team members that are just
excited to have him in person, and they were gonna
they want to have time off so they can go
to the Culinary Connection during the farm show to you know,
while while he's here.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Well, you know, a lot of people will watch those
food channels, so I'm sure a lot of them know
all about him.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
How about it.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
I think he has a lot of groupies.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Oh is that right?
Speaker 3 (17:07):
I think he does.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
Okay, The Culinary Connection has done a good job of
getting celebrities over the past few years, and it's really
grown in popularity for sure.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
You know, we talked about how we're going to incorporate
the two hundred and fiftieth Celebration of America. They're going
to be they're going to be quite a peep quite
a number of products, food and otherwise that will demonstrate
that Sharon tell us about that.
Speaker 4 (17:32):
Yeah, So there's everything from the two fifty apron contest,
you know, to quilts Christmas tree growers are incorporating some
design elements and their wreathmaking beekeepers will have something.
Speaker 5 (17:44):
You know.
Speaker 4 (17:45):
So we we've strongly encouraged as many of the competitive
events committees to embrace the two fifty and they're doing it.
So there'll be lots of competitions. We as the Visitors
Bureau are actually working with two fifty as well as
the Friends of farm Show Foundation, and of course you
know Heidisvanovek, the executive director at the Pennsylvania Farm Show
(18:06):
Complex now to develop.
Speaker 5 (18:07):
The ag Explore app.
Speaker 4 (18:09):
The ag Explorer program has been in existence for a
very long time and it's typically you come in, you
get a map, it shows where all the learning stations
are across the complex. It's a way to navigate the
complex and learn along the way. And so this year
we're digitalizing it. We're actually we have an app. You
go in, you can click on the QR code at
any of the ag Explorer stations, download the app, and
(18:33):
as you go to each ag Explorer station, whether it
be learning about bees, learning about dairy, learning about beef whool,
you can actually it checks you in. It's Geofen, so
it will check you in and you then earn prizes.
Two fifty is sponsoring the first couple thousand. Anyone who
checks in at least fifteen locations will get a goodie
(18:55):
bag from America to fifty and then also Dairy Farmers
of America is the larger sponsorship sponsor of the program
and they will be giving away winners at the prizes
at the end.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
Of the week.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Well you have an app like that. You've been last
time you were in to talk about Visitors Bureau and
what you're all the all the incredible things going on
here in our area. You have an app like that
that identifies is it artwork?
Speaker 5 (19:18):
Well, we do.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
It's called our Trails and Experience app, and we do
anything from you know, experience, hiking, biking. You know, there's
there's the outdoor component. We have an arts arts district.
We have a trail there and so it was a
really good opportunity for us in my new role, to
really help UH grow the a Explore program because we
(19:40):
know so many people like you know, prizes and they
want to have that gamified thing on their phone. So
we were able to help create the Explorer program on
a digital version within form shows.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
Am I missing anything that's new? I'm sitting here thinking
about it. I wonder if you mentioned some of that.
I mean, there's plenty of new stuff there, but at
the top of my mind, I can't think about that.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
So all that on, hold, sharm, are you going to
say so?
Speaker 5 (20:01):
I was just going to say.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
We do have the rodeo this year, which we've had
PRCA has been there for a number of years. They
are adding a Friday eleven am show this year because
attendance has been so well, so good that people were
starting to not be able to attend because they were
sold out early, and so they added an eleven am
Friday show for families, which is great. You can bring
your kids, you know, homeschoolers that kind of thing, attend
(20:23):
the rodeo during the day and then they will still
have the Friday evening show as well.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
I love that you still have things like the little
peeps that kids can and Dave the calving corner still
have that TuS.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
But that's absolutely and it's just been breathtaking to see
the success of that. You know, we have we have
some very committed dairy farmers in Pennsylvania that have have
allowed the you know, to they have they have committed
to bring some pregnant cows into the farm show and
if the timing was right, there is opportunity that the
people might be able to see the birth of the CAF.
(20:55):
The miracle of the birth of CAF been very popular.
It's been started about eight years ago. And you know,
when we first started, I really thought that we would
run out of farms you know that would be committed
enough to do that, because it is a real commitment
for our farmers to do that and travel and so forth.
And sure, you know, to date, we continue to get
(21:18):
new farms involved in this because they're committed to helping
to share that miracle birth with with other people. And
it's very significant to me that they're willing to do
that and teach people and have a conversation about people
about what goes on in the farm and what happens on.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
The Farmer about real life. I agree with that. That
cheap the shawl is still on, right, Sharon. It's like
years ago that sort of the farm show was no much.
Sheep the shaw, Sheep the shaw.
Speaker 5 (21:47):
Yeah, it's very popular.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
Yeah, okay.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Every year they had that was it a thousand pounds
of butter that somebody brings in.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
It's but it's not larger, it's butter.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
Every year they come up with the new a new sculpture,
and that's really cool.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
You guys don't have any idea.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Right, they don't tell anybody.
Speaker 5 (22:06):
Okay, we're hoping for two fifty, but who knows.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Oh that would be cool, wouldn't it? Wow? Wow?
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Okay, they have a mullet competition. I have no cool idea.
What what there?
Speaker 1 (22:17):
When I think a mall and I think of the hair,
do is that.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
That's where it is? Yeah? So we we got the idea.
Speaker 5 (22:24):
Number. I think this is probably the third year.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
You're right.
Speaker 5 (22:28):
Yeah. And one of the fairs.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (22:32):
Some of the formship leadership goes to the International Association
affairs and events, and they were talking about this mullet contest,
and you know, we thought, hey, why not try it?
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Right?
Speaker 4 (22:44):
The secretary at the time was like, why are we
having a mullet contest? I said, well, you can't educate
them on agriculture unless you get them to come to
the show. And this is a great opportunity to get
them to come to the show. It's a different demographic
and so we did and it blew up.
Speaker 5 (22:58):
It was very very popular.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
I'm only I mean more contestants than we actually could track.
So yeah, it's been very very popular. And it is
I mean if you if you lived in the eighties,
you know.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
It's children and adults too, so it's a mix.
Speaker 5 (23:13):
All ages, all ages, all ages participation.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
How do they decide who has the best mullet?
Speaker 5 (23:18):
I mean, we have judges.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
Maybe you could be a mullet judge. Something that would
be fun.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Maybe I could show up with the mullet.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
How about that. I think it's open to you if
you were to try it.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
He speaking about other turkeys.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
There's a turkey contest that seems to be picking up
speed over the last couple of years with the young kids, right.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Yes, so last year the turkey showmanship competition really started.
Another one that you know, the Farmship leaders farms show
Leadership borrowed from another fair, and you kind of, if
you've ever watched them show swine where you have a
stick and you kind of lead them through turkeys, kind
(24:01):
of do the same thing.
Speaker 5 (24:02):
And so there was a.
Speaker 4 (24:02):
Sponsor they actually give the kids a free turkey and
then and it was and then they raise it and
they come to farm show and they walk it around
and they put it in the show ring and all
those great things.
Speaker 5 (24:13):
And it's an opportunity I can speak to last year.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
I can't speak to the participants this year, but last
year with a really great thing was a number of
the kids that participated were not living on farms, were
not kids that had really ever been exposed to agriculture before.
And so it's you know, it's a it's a bird.
It's small, it's not you know, you don't need a
barn for beef or you know, something larger. So it
(24:37):
gave these kids an opportunity to learn about agriculture and
participate in farm show in an area they would not
have fought.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
What happens to the turkey when it's all when they're all,
you know, everything's done.
Speaker 1 (24:47):
They do they get sell the turkey? Or does it
what happens.
Speaker 5 (24:51):
Yeah, the top winners do go into the livestock auction.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Okay, kay, I remember when we were kids, it was
Easter time and the remember when I don't know if you,
I'm older than you guys, but they used to give
like parents used to get these little peeps, colored peeps.
And I remember somebody gave my brother and my two
brothers and I one and my oh, my one brother
he used to try to make his fly, and my
but first two died. My brother who was the wilder
(25:16):
one of the three of us. He had lost almost
all kinds of funds with this peep and it got struck,
getting bigger and bigger, and my dad said, we got
to give this to the farmer because you know again,
well then the farmer did his number on it and
brought it back and gave it to my dad. Oh,
my little brother cried and cried and cried like, yeah,
(25:39):
it's funny how the young kids, dave you been a
farmer for a long time.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
Kids get attached to the animals, don't they check?
Speaker 3 (25:46):
Yeah, well, you know, and that's a that's an item
for the farm show too. They do get attached and
then and the livestock sale. They don't go home to
the farm, you know, they get they get sold. And
I have seen you know a lot of a lot
of the youth that have spent you know a lot
of time training that animal, you know, for the showmanship
contests and things like that, and they do become attached
(26:08):
to those animals, and it's it's a kind of a heartfelt,
you know, feeling for those folks when when their separation happens.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
Wow, well, Sharon, you know what, I know how important
agriculture is in Pennsylvania if by anyone anyone else, you
guys have taught me that. I know that the dairy
industry alone provides like close to fifty thousand jobs, right, Dave,
and generates almost twelve billion dollars of revenue for the stake.
That's just a dairy industry.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
That's right. You know. The whole wagon industry is in
over one hundred billion dollars, but the dairy and that
sector is is huge in Pennsylvania.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
So sharing what does all this with the farm show
being here for eight days, what's going to what does
it always mean to our local.
Speaker 4 (26:52):
Economy, local economy? The Pennsylvania Farms Show generates about seventy
million dollars in economic impacts. You're talking fifty six hundred jobs.
You're talking, you know, thirty five hotels see business from
the annual farm show, thirty four thousand room nights. It's
a big deal and we appreciate being part of that because,
(27:12):
you know, with agriculture being the number one industry in
the state and tourism being number two, what a great partnership.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
Absolutely, and you know.
Speaker 4 (27:20):
Again, agriculture six hundred thousand jobs in the state, tourism
about five hundred thousand. So it's a great opportunity for
us to you know, promote the state's number one in
two industry and to educate people along the way. And
we hope that people really truly understand the impact. You know,
there's nothing else banging on the door to come in
(27:41):
in January, and so every business we now have a
program called placer AI that we actually collect some data
from and we know that you know, there's one hundred
and fifty plus businesses that actually see business as a
result of farm show, people coming going, you know, gas
being bought, the tax revenue that's generated from people selling products,
(28:03):
and so let's.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Do this year round.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
Yeah, absolutely, every day exactly can you handle that day?
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Absolutely, we'll make it work.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
Now, both of you guys have been doing this like
for years and years. When you think back over the years,
tell me, is there anything really hysterical now you know
them all for hysteria, anything funny over the years that
you can remember that's happened, or anything that really sticks it.
Maybe it doesn't have to be it's something that touched you.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
Something that impactful for me was I think in the
nineties there was a blizzard that happened during the farm show,
and I think things closed down to the point where,
you know, there were some people that stayed at the
farm show and nobody could get anywhere. But it was
kind of unique and very neat to see how people
stepped up to help other people in those kind of environments.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
Yeah, how it sharing You were going to say something, well,
I would just say, you know, farm show in general
being you know, I've been so blow for the last
twenty years.
Speaker 5 (29:01):
I started in sales selling.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
The farm show complex, and then of course as the
executive director and it's a facility that gets in your
blood and it's great. Everybody works together for the common
good that no one look thinks about themselves and I
really appreciate just everybody bringing it together.
Speaker 1 (29:16):
I'm so glad you guys come in. It's always wonderful.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
It's one hundred and tenth Pennsylvania Farm Show January nineteenth
to tenth of the seventeenth at the Pennsylvania Farmshow Complex
in Harrisburg. A mission is free, parkins fifteen bucks. Where
do we get more information about the Pennsylvania Dairyman's Association.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
Dave Padairyman's dot com.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
And about the farm Show Sharon.
Speaker 5 (29:37):
PA Farm Show Complex dot gop.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
I love you guys, I'm sylving them off.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Listen inside every Sunday on our tan iheartstations there any
time on your favorite podcast step.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
Thanks so much for listening. See at the farm Show
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