Insight With Sylvia Maus 121723 2024 PA Farm Show

"The 2024 Pennsylvania Farm Show connects the $132.5 PA Agriculture industry to the lives that are positively impacted daily by its success."

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Hi, I'm Sylvia Moss and thisis inside a presentation of iHeartMedia, where
we really do care about our localcommunities and all our listeners who live here.
Well, this is the time ofyear when hundreds of thousands of people
from all over the country are anticipatingan incredible event that's going to take place
right here in Harrisburg in just acouple of weeks. It's always fun,

(00:20):
always educationally and certainly always tasty.It's a Pennsylvania Farm Show. That's right,
It's a one hundred and eight PennsylvaniaFarm Show. It's going to be
held Saturday January sixth through Saturday Januarythirteenth at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and
Expost Center. And if you're aregular listener, excuse me, listener,

(00:40):
you know that my guests are alwaysthe best of the best and truly experts
in their fields. That being said, I'd like to introduce you to Pennsylvania
Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Lisa Graybialwho herself is a dairy farmer and just
wait you hear her story with Lisais dairy farmer extraordinaire. The man who's
name is only preceded by his milkshakes. An all round great guy and executive

(01:06):
director of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Duryman's Association,Dave Smith Lisa, this is one of
my favorite interviews all year round becauseI love to talk about the farm show
and I especially love the tech teasethe god to Dave to find out what
their milkshake flavor is. So we'regoing to talk about that in a couple
of minutes. But what has yourexperience been as a woman in the dairy

(01:29):
industry. Well, that's interesting becauseI have a had a grandmother who worked
so hard on our family farm,and I think, you know, women
have always been in agriculture, That'sright, It's just been different roles over
the generations. So where maybe mygrandmother had more of a supportive role and

(01:49):
brought up the children on the farmand supported my grandfather through the generations,
then we've seen women step up tomore leadership roles. So I'm proud to
have both roles. Supportive with myfamily and stepping up to the State Department
of Agriculture to support farmers there andadvocate for farmers. Want to ask,
is something else and I understand Pennsylvaniaagric culture is one hundred and thirty two

(02:13):
or plus billion dollar business. Wow, what is the impact when the farm
show comes to town, to ourarea economically, just central Pennsylvania economically,
it's a huge boost, not tomention, it's just a boost in letting
people know what agriculture is. It'sour biggest industry in Pennsylvania, so we

(02:35):
can really educate people and maybe peoplewho don't know much about the industry even
though it is so big. Thisis our chance to get the message out
and educate people and what agriculture is, what we do and all the food
we produce. There is a themeevery year. What's issue's theme and tell
us what it means? Right,this year is connecting our communities? And

(02:58):
what better theme because everybody eats,everybody loves food, So what better theme
to have connecting our communities. It'sconnecting our farms, are connecting our producers,
connecting our agriculture to our urban andsuburban people because everyone eats, everybody

(03:19):
loves food, and that's what weproduce, and so what a great way
to connect. Also workforce, there'sa lot of jobs, our careers in
the industry, so there's a lotof opportunities there for the public to just
get out there and we'll try toshow them our put our best foot forward
at the farm show this year.Well, Dave, I'm going to protect

(03:39):
you for a couple of minutes.Anyway, I'm going to be nice.
I love this man anyway, Executivedirector of the Pennsylvania Dairyman's Association. You
guys have donated over a million bucksto wonderful programs. Can you talk about
those, like, I don't know, Filled Glass Ope? That's pretty awesome.
Yeah, absolutely, Sylvia. We'reexcited about that. You know,

(04:02):
we're a nonprofit organization and we sellmilkshakes and make some people happy with our
milkshakes. But the revenue from someof those milkshakes sales go right back into
the communities that we serve around theCommonwealth. Many of them help next generation
development of farmers in the form ofscholarships, bringing new young people developing their

(04:24):
skills. But also, as youjust mentioned, Filled Glass with Hope is
kind of something that has really grownstrongly in my heart to date. It
well, actually, it's a programto help raise money for food banks to
purchase fresh food milk to go backto their food bank clients. It's an
amazing fact that there's over five hundredthousand children in Pennsylvania that are food challenged

(04:46):
every day, and our dairy farmersand many others feel the real calling to
to help to serve those people thatthey don't have the capacity to have food
in their table. So Filled Glasswith Hope over the last five and six
years has raised enough money to servethirty five million servings of milk to food

(05:06):
bank clients across the state. We'reproud of that. We're going to launch
it at the Pennsylvania Farm Show onFriday, January fifth. We get corporate
sponsors in there. It's really anexciting time to help create some buzz and
generate some more interest around this programthat helps so many people. Oh,
we could go on and on.Let's talk about a couple more of those.

(05:27):
And I wanted to mention too,the importance of it because milk is
so important for children growing up.And I can remember years ago are local
the Central Pennsylvanian Food Bank, theywanted milk, but they didn't have the
storage for it. But now theydo and it's they're in twenty seven counties
alone. Yeah. Well, thePhiloglass with Hope program, the funding goes

(05:48):
through Feeding Pennsylvania, which Central PennsylvaniaFood Bank is one of those organizations.
And it's really been awesome to seethe food banks in Pennsylvania develop their infrastructure
sure in ways that they didn't havebefore. And it's just as you mentioned,
at one point food banks were knownfor some non perishable things that they

(06:08):
give out. They've developed a realstrong interest and supply chain ways of refrigeration
and increasing their capacity so that theycan do perishable foods and distribute that in
a real meaningful way and quick way. So milk is one of those ways
that one of those food items thatwere really really dedicated to see that everybody

(06:32):
gets that nutrition of milk, eventhe children in Pennsylvania. You know,
Lisa had mentioned that women had alwaysplayed a major part in farming industry,
family farms. But you're a guywho's in charge of a program for the
I want to say little princesses,but the Pennsylvania Dairy Princess encourages that as
well, doesn't it right? Andmany people are not familiar with the program.

(06:56):
It's one that we fund through,you know, our sales from some
of the the proceeds of milkshake sales. And the Pennsylvania Dairy Princess Program is
a program that most every county inPennsylvania has a princess program. Many of
the counties do, and they havecompetition for these young women to compete against
each other to be a County Princessand then the county princesses go on to

(07:18):
a state pageant where they showcase theirskills in speaking and knowledge about the dairy
industry and these women become incredible advocatesfor our dairy farmers around Pennsylvania. You
know, one of the biggest thingsI think about is the future, and
people don't realize not only is agriculturethe number one industry in Pennsylvania, but

(07:40):
there are so many jobs out thereacross the board in agriculture. One of
the things you do through that,I guess is the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.
They have an ag education lab.Talk to me about that, Yes,
absolutely, so. Another program thatthe Dairymen's Association helps fun is that ag
Education Lab from the Farm Bureau andthey have several of those labs that travel

(08:01):
throughout the state of the Commonwealth ofPennsylvania to schools, middle elementary schools and
it's a lab inside of a trailer, and each of these labs has a
hands on learning track for these studentsto learn about agriculture so they can test

(08:22):
their skills a little bit and theylearn while doing these things. And it's
just an incredible movement where our farmfamily and our farm communities are reaching out
to consumers that don't have knowledge aboutagriculture practices so that they can learn about
the things of agriculture and why wedo some of the things on the farms
and get kids excited about the numberone industry in this Commonwealth. And it

(08:46):
goes into I mean, AI isright around the corner unless you know something
I don't, Dave well and excitedabout careers too, because while many of
us Alisa and I come from afarm, hands on farm background, but
there are so many other careers thatcould be surrounded by agriculture. It's limitless.

(09:07):
So these labs and these learning experiencesexposed students to new opportunities of careers
that they may take a path thatthey never dreamed of taking. Before we
talk about the events these, Iwant to talk about you because I'm glad
you mentioned that women have always becauseI remember my grandparents on my father's side.

(09:28):
They're long gone, but they owneda farm, and I remember hearing
stories my grandmother had seventeen children.Yeah yeah, in the coal region.
Now there's nothing else to do inthe coal regions, but I remember hearing
stories about her where she'd have ababy bitter that day, should be out
working in the fields. And it'slike we're kind of pushed aside. But

(09:50):
there are a lot of things thatare open for women. And you're from
what I understand, you went toschool for journalism and then you got real
smart and got out of there becausethere's no money in it. Right.
Well, I actually love journalism,but yes, I did go to school
for journalism. I was a newspaperreporter for about ten years before returning to
the farm. What brought you backto the farm, Well, at the

(10:11):
time we were decided to do anexpansion. My brother had come back from
school, and I thought I wouldhelp out the family to expand and get
going in the new facility. AndI thought it would just be a temporary
thing, and I ended up stayingfor twenty years. Boy, I know
that story. We'll talk afterwards.Let's talk about some of those things that
are coming up at the farm show. A real popular one is called the

(10:35):
calving corner, And could you talkabout that? And you can actually watch
that right? Sure? Actually virtually, yeah, it's virtually and live.
We have some farmers who are bringingin their animals that are really pregnant and
about ready to burst. So wehave a live basically pen that people can

(10:58):
observe the calving process, and wedo have people there and veterinarians there who
will explain the process to everyone watching. And it's it's been a very popular
event at the farm show. OhI can imagine that. Wow, also
something that's been popular. Are youstill having the butter sculpture? We sure
are, and nobody knows about thatuntil sometime. Well, this show will

(11:20):
air in a week or two ona Sunday, but it'll the world will
be out by them. But youcan't tell me King again, it's top
secret. I think. The onlything I can tell you, Sylvia is
it will use a lot of butter. But however, we are going to
have the big reveal of the buttersculpture will be Thursday, January fourth.
Okay, that's oh really okay,Okay, how does that work? You

(11:43):
have the same team of people tocome in every year and do that.
How does it work? I believeit rotates, but I think the I'm
not really sure about that. Whoyou know if the one the artist this
year is you know, the sameas in the past. But I know
that they're planning something big, sowe're excited. Oh my good Dave,
you would know this. What happensto the butter after it's all over.

(12:05):
That's one thing that I do know. I don't know anything about the butter
sculpture, but I know where itgoes. Actually, it's kind of a
neat story is because the butter goesto a farm where Raneford farms in the
Miflintown area, and it goes intheir biodigester and turns. It's used to
turn into electricity for their farm andother houses. No, Ken, yes,

(12:26):
yes, talk about eight Well,not really technology. Let's not call
it a I've a technology that's wonderful. I love that sheep. The shop
still hot this year. It's planned, it's always hot, it's always popular.
So again another thing we're looking forwardto. I remember last year talking
about that tractor ride, because whenSharon was in with you and you were

(12:48):
talking about it's not really a ride. It's a virtual tractor ride while you
sit there. And yet I rementioning watching people looking in their mirror,
looking behind and make sure they don'thit anybody. Really there's but you're there.
Remember that talking about is Sharon Myersdescribed that I guess a simulator where
people could do and they it's itwas a hands on experience for kids and

(13:11):
adults alike, and I think itwas very popular. It was a military
appreciation day. That's always big,isn't it. Well, let me talk
to them about that a little bit, because they jump in. It is
a huge day on Thursday at farmShow. And actually the Dairyman's Association is
offering free milkshakes to all military andand the retired personnel that day with a

(13:35):
partnership from Renewal by Anderson, andwe're really excited about that. We get
hundreds and hundreds of military people inthere that day. It's a great day.
Renewal by Anderson. What can't mentiona more generous company than Renewed by
Anderson. They just gave one hundredthousand dollars to these the organization that's building
the veterans houses downtown Harrisburg. Theyjust there incredible. They really step up

(13:58):
to the up to the the pointGiant Foods is a bee for you,
Dave tell us, why well,absolutely, and Lisa you know, mentioned
earlier about the what we're the nameof the farm show and the theme is
connecting our communities and actually the Dairymen'sAssociation has made a new partner this year

(14:18):
which just fits so perfectly into thatmatch is because Giant, the Giant Company
has been around for one hundred yearsand they've been serving Pennsylvania milk to their
consumers for that hundred years. Andin honor of that one hundred years celebration
with Giant, the Dairymen's Association isfeaturing in a new featured flavor of milkshake

(14:43):
this year, the Salted Caramel Milkshake, and we're really excited about that.
We've teamed up with Giant to helphave this this birthday celebration. Actually,
Giant is offering coupons during the dayat farm Show for visitors for for first
one hundred milkshakes are going to befree on Giant. Just a great company

(15:05):
that's been around for a long timeand serving our dairy farmers in ways very
positive for a long time. Oneof the things that has been only in
the last couple of years is theNational Anthem contest. Lisa, are you
some word out is that Dave's goingto be singing this year? Is it
him? You know, Sylvia hadwe had the best turnout this year for

(15:31):
that contest. They had to whittleit down. Apparently it was a very
tough job. We had some realtalented people sign up for that, so
they had to whittle it down tothe top ten. And so we think
we selected some really great performers thisyear. Are they all adults? I
think there's a mix. I thinkoften there are some children in there.

(15:52):
And I will say, Sylvia thatthat National Anthem daily, which Lisa's talked
about having different people do, thatis just an awesome experience. When they
announce that national anthem and the singersin the morning, everything in the farm
show complex comes to a stop,no kidd and they listen and they stand

(16:14):
at attention and it is special.Oh that sounds wonderful. Oh my,
I just can't believe this. Let'stalk about the major reason. There's a
lot of reasons, but when peopletalk about the farm Show other than Dave
Smokeshakes, they talk about the food. Right, The Pennsylvania Mushroom Association is
US this year. Tell us aboutthat. Isn't Pennsylvania the mushroom capital of

(16:37):
the world. It absolutely is.Pennsylvania is the largest producer of mushrooms in
the world. Two thirds of thewhite button mushrooms consumed in the US come
from Pa Mushroom Farm Sylvia. Sowe're excited because they are actually announcing a
new item food item this year.It's the stuffed baby Bella mushrooms. Oh

(16:59):
my god, we are really lookingforward. There's two kinds, the Fiesta
Cheese blend and the Artichok spinach andcheese, so we're looking forward to that.
And they're also going to have theirregulars, like don't they have a
steakhouse burger made mushrooms. They domushroom soup, the breaded mushrooms, so
just just a ton of things.We also have a new food item with
the potato Growers. They're featuring potatocakes this year. Oh my gosh,

(17:23):
you're going towards my hometown. Lastyear, last couple of years it has
been Perogis petro he Now it's Paska's. Now it's the potato cakes. They're
going to clean up with that onetoo, how about it? That's right?
And potato cakes, yep. Andand don't forget, Pennsylvania is the
snack food capital of the world,and so we have to feature those potatoes.

(17:45):
And we and they thought the potatopancakes, the potato cakes would be
a great way to introduce that.I guarantee, I guarantee. I wonder
where you got the recipe from.Not sure? Oh my top secret.
Oh my gosh, I'll give youthe recipe. I'm getting over, Oh,
Dave. These are awesome also asfar as other like let's talk about

(18:06):
fruit and vegetables. As far asfruits, you have apple turnovers, you
have honey ice cream, what else? All kinds of stuff. Absolutely,
there's there's all kinds of different varietyof things. You know, the beekeepers
do their honey ice cream very popular, and then the other associations of many
different sandwiches, the pork sandwiches arevery good, and chickens the chicken fingers,

(18:30):
yeah, it's a it's a mortgaspoort. And the Dairyman's Association offers really
good food absolutely, you know.In addition, in addition to the milkshakes
that we're known for. We doan incredible product that the deep fried mazzarella
cheese cubes that people will late inline and they'll get to the front of
the line and they'll say, Iwaited all year to come back and taste

(18:53):
these cheese cubes because they're they're reallygreat product, and there we have fun
serving them. Yes, yeah,the cheese sound thank you. Well,
think about dairy ice cream. Wewere very fortunate to represent dairy farmers because
the breadth of the food items thatdairy supports in our diets is broad.
So we do do the grilled cheesesandwiches, and we'll do ice cream,

(19:15):
milkshakes and the deep fried macerella cheesecubes. So we what's your favorite your
favorite food? Milkshakes? Milkshakes?Oh well, yeah, milk forget you're
sitting next to him. Yeah,milkshakes is absolutely up there. But yeah,
the fried cheese cubes you just can'tbeat. Oh my gosh, I
want to ask you a couple ofquick questions. Parking is free, No

(19:37):
excuse me, the admission is free. Parking you're taking credit cards this year
because it's a whole lot easier,right, that's it is. It is
cashless. We do want to tellyou, Sylvia that farm show hours,
parking information, the schedule of events, and you know a lot of other
details everybody can find when they visitthe website at farmshow dot p A dot

(19:59):
gov. There's a whole lot ofstuff. You can even download a map
on the farm show with inside.There's plenty of stuff there. People are
concerned about security, but I thinkyou have it covered, don't you.
We sure do, and we're sograteful the Pennsylvania State Police help us out
with security. We have our emergencymanagement team from PDA coming in and we
just have a lot of support fromour local law enforcement as well, so

(20:22):
we're covered. We're we're feeling confident. It's a lot of people to manage,
a lot of traffic, a lotof things going on, but we
have it covered and we're confident.There are plenty of places to be.
Are there plenty of polices to pee? Absolutely, we have our are all
those bathrooms and Okay, Dave,it's a normal, natural thing. And

(20:47):
if you've been never been with me, and you know I need to be
normal and natural a lot. Whatdo you think little children enjoy most about
the farm show? I mean,because it is a huge family event.
Do you know what I think it'shas to be the animals. Yeah,
just you know, we had anincredible showing last year of goats snuggling that

(21:07):
was so popular, and that itwas so popular last year we moved it
to a bigger area this year.Is that what is goat snuggling? People
can get in there and literally snugglewith goats. Okay, I haven't done
that yet. I'll need to dothat, I think, and you've got
to get pictures of that one.Lisa and I will be first in Lune.

(21:29):
That's right, That's right. ButI think you know the cattle,
we just have the sheep, thegoats. There's such an array of animals
and you know, not every kidgets to see an animal up close like
that, and they can talk tothe handlers, and so I think that's
really popular with the kids. Ithink the calving corner and the new caves
are really special for the children too. And if people were there at the

(21:52):
time of a birth of a calf, that miracle is a miracle of life.
Is something that the population does nothave a connection with and it's just
a special time and the baby cavsare very special also, usually you need
volunteers. Do you still need volunteers? I know the kids like the FHA
and who else the other kids.Those kids work their butts off every year.

(22:18):
I'll tell you what silly. Ittakes thousands of volunteers and hundreds of
staff to create a successful farm show. So yeah, we're always always looking
out. So we can certainly reachout through the website if anyone's interested.
Oh that's great. And also you'realso open to ideas from anybody all through
the year for the farms. Youhave no ideas. That's what's so cool

(22:41):
about it. It's not a bureaucracy. People can say, hey, did
you think about this? Did youthink about the potato cakes from the coal
regions? Right, that's right,and we actually have We're featuring a lot
of new things this year and newevents, and people are so creative.
I'm amazed every year at all ofthe new things. So it's it's it's
awesome. So yeah, everybody's openTIEAs to make the farm show a little
more interesting, impactful and fun.Well, off the top of your head,

(23:04):
talk to me about some of thosethings that are new. Well,
you know what, this year we'refeaturing our first country music concert and it
is going to be held Wednesday nightand it's featuring Alex Miller, who is
a FFA alum, and a localmusician, Nathan Marovich from Dillsburg. And
a portion of the proceeds from thecountry music concert will benefit FFA. I

(23:26):
did mention the goat snuggling that's goingto be in a larger area this year.
Butterflies will be in the Giant ExpoHall and this is a new educational
display and we're excited to welcome onceUpon a Butterfly to serve our butterfly loving
crowd. There's a new presentation areafor family living this year will feature a

(23:47):
history of Pennsylvania traditions among a tonof other planned events, so just a
lot going on. Pennsylvania Artisans aregoing to be doing some rotating booths around
the complex and Christmas trees and reath'suh that area. They're going to be
providing a porch pot class and wreathdemonstrations. Do you know what this might

(24:07):
sound silly, but I read acouple of weeks ago Dave's like already laughing
at me. Redward Taylor Smith hasa swift swift excuse me, I bring
you, Dave. Oh lord,Taylor Swift has brought so much, not
only the national but the Pennsylvania economy. Her parents were Christmas Tree. Somebody

(24:29):
got to get that girl and makeher have a Taylor Smith day. Swift
Swift, Swift Day, the samesentence with her. What's his name?
Travis Kelsey? You're bulloughtered? Ithought about that. I was thinking about
that last night. Why did somebodyget a hold of that girl and make
it a Taylor Swift Day? Well, you know what, maybe we'll invite
her for next year. Wouldn't thatbe awesome. You'd have to get two

(24:52):
farm Show buildings for that. Ohmy god. Pennsylvania Preferred Products they're always
a big deal. Can you explainfor people who don't understand what Pennsylvania Preferred
Products are? Sure? It isactually a sort of a program that was
started several years ago just featuring farmerswho produce food in Pennsylvania and a lot

(25:14):
of those products are featured at farmShow and can be enjoyed by everyone visually
and the edible products in the foodcourt. So it's just something we have
through the Department of Ag that justlifts up the products that are produced in
this state. So many, somany people in our are in our commonwealth
want to want to support our farmsand in order to keep our farms in

(25:38):
Pennsylvania and be sustainable. Uh,this is a program that identifies the products
that come from Pennsylvania. So ifyou pick out and see something that says
PA preferred, you're supporting a locala local farm in Pennsylvania. That's what
it's all about, isn't it.That's right. You know, we're running
out of time. I hate Ialways said, I said to Lisa when
when she first walked and Dave ismy I mean when Dave I look forward

(26:00):
his zanium all year round because it'salways fun. He has so many things
that he's involved in that are benefitingthe whole commonwealth and he's got such passion
for it. And hope to seeyou again sometime soon. And also I
want to close by telling our listenersthat Pennsylvania Vania's dairy industry contributes how much

(26:21):
Dave visit eleven point eight billion dollarsto the revenue of the whole state every
year, eleven almost twelve billion dollars. It's a huge number. It's the
dairy farms in Pennsylvania it's the multipliereffect of the all the businesses that are
affected that support those dairy farms.And there's so many jobs created because of
those dairy farms in Pennsylvania, andthose five thousand dairy farms in Pennsylvania.

(26:45):
Pennsylvania ranks about eighth in the countryas far as milk production. It's amazing
and I'm so glad the Pennsylvania Departmentof Agriculture JEFT three Secretary Lisa. I
want to hope I'm pronouncing your nameback right the first time they're in here,
cause I'm sure I'll see you again. Great deal. Yes, perfect.
And Dave Smith, who is theexecutive director of the Pennsylvaniadairyman's Association,

(27:07):
are two farm families. They liveit, they promote it. They're constantly
out there doing everything to make peopleknow how important the dairy industry is,
how important the future of the dairyindustry and is, and all that fun
stuff that goes on at the PennsylvaniaFarm Show. See you at the twenty
twenty four Pennsylvania Farm Show Saturday,January sixth through January the thirteenth. That's

(27:30):
Pennsylvania Complex Farm Show Complex in HarrisberEverybody that goes there. You're gonna have
a ball. Guys, thanks somuch for coming in. Thank you Dave
your milkshake. Ooh, not soquick. I'm Sylvia most. This has
been insight. Thank you so muchfor listening. To see you next week.