PA Farm show is on this week

[TiogaLion]

Who's going? I was there Saturday and had a nice time. Several food items were absent but the baked potatoes and mild shakes were going strong. A sow with bunch of piglets is the Giant Expo, which doesn't normally have any animals. Crowd was very light and I'd say 80% had no masks so if that's an issue for you be warned.

For those that don't know, it's the largest farm show east of the Mississippi river and typically is absolutely jammed but with covid this may be your best chance ever to see it without bumping into someone every step.

Here's the schedule of events. The "sheep to shawl" contest starts tomorrow at 3:00. They start with sheep and end with beautiful colored shawls in about 2 -3 hours.

Schedule of Events | Pennsylvania Farm Show | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

www.farmshow.pa.gov

 

[step.eng69]

Who's going? I was there Saturday and had a nice time. Several food items were absent but the baked potatoes and mild shakes were going strong. A sow with bunch of piglets is the Giant Expo, which doesn't normally have any animals. Crowd was very light and I'd say 80% had no masks so if that's an issue for you be warned.

For those that don't know, it's the largest farm show east of the Mississippi river and typically is absolutely jammed but with covid this may be your best chance ever to see it without bumping into someone every step.

Here's the schedule of events. The "sheep to shawl" contest starts tomorrow at 3:00. They start with sheep and end with beautiful colored shawls in about 2 -3 hours.

Schedule of Events | Pennsylvania Farm Show | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

www.farmshow.pa.gov

I would love to attend for a few days, only live about 2:20 hrs away. Would probably get a hotel room in Harrisburg. Unfortunately, I work three days a week and my current schedule is demanding.

 

[BobPSU92]

Are the cows and pigs wearing masks?

 

[fairgambit]

Who's going? I was there Saturday and had a nice time. Several food items were absent but the baked potatoes and mild shakes were going strong. A sow with bunch of piglets is the Giant Expo, which doesn't normally have any animals. Crowd was very light and I'd say 80% had no masks so if that's an issue for you be warned.

For those that don't know, it's the largest farm show east of the Mississippi river and typically is absolutely jammed but with covid this may be your best chance ever to see it without bumping into someone every step.

Here's the schedule of events. The "sheep to shawl" contest starts tomorrow at 3:00. They start with sheep and end with beautiful colored shawls in about 2 -3 hours.

Schedule of Events | Pennsylvania Farm Show | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

www.farmshow.pa.gov

My wife loves Sheep to Shawl. I enjoy it too. You can watch on PCNTV.

 

[fairgambit]

Are the cows and pigs wearing masks?

 

[leinbacker]

Are the cows and pigs wearing masks?

are you referring to the animals or the wives that go?

 

[91Joe95]

Who's going? I was there Saturday and had a nice time. Several food items were absent but the baked potatoes and mild shakes were going strong. A sow with bunch of piglets is the Giant Expo, which doesn't normally have any animals. Crowd was very light and I'd say 80% had no masks so if that's an issue for you be warned.

For those that don't know, it's the largest farm show east of the Mississippi river and typically is absolutely jammed but with covid this may be your best chance ever to see it without bumping into someone every step.

Here's the schedule of events. The "sheep to shawl" contest starts tomorrow at 3:00. They start with sheep and end with beautiful colored shawls in about 2 -3 hours.

Schedule of Events | Pennsylvania Farm Show | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

www.farmshow.pa.gov

I understand some people only go to comfort the losing sheep. Hey, has anyone seen Tom?

---

 

[Nittany1865Farmer]

Was there on Monday, went early morning so the crowd was very sparse. Only about half of the exhibits and vendors were there from a normal show before the pandemic. Mask-wise, about 90 percent without masks, so was personally glad to have gone early so one could keep some distance from the people. It's a shame that we have to teach people today where our food comes from and the miracles of life on the farm like calving and hatching chicks since today's generations do not have any experience seeing or being around farms anymore.

 

[Pocono Lion]

Are the cows and pigs wearing masks?

A smart*** would say no, just the sheep are

 

[ODShowtime]

I've had some good times at the farm show in my day (that sounds creepy) but whenever I drive by I think about how Frank Zappa played there once and how fun and weird that must have been.

I'm surprised the Dead never played there.

 

[helixville]

Went down Monday with 25 of my FFA kids. I agree crowd was light and without the FFA kids there it would have been a ghost town. They usually have a sow and a litter in the Giant center. If you are going two things to get to eat. #1 Cheese curds on a stick are a must. #2 Milk shake- I get chocolate but the new flavor black raspberry was real popular. I didn't really have time to hit the exhibit hall as I spent most of the time either at the FFA convention or in the Cattle barn (hall). Livestock exhibits of all species was way down this year. It was good to be back after not having it last year.

 

[TiogaLion]

Was there on Monday, went early morning so the crowd was very sparse. Only about half of the exhibits and vendors were there from a normal show before the pandemic. Mask-wise, about 90 percent without masks, so was personally glad to have gone early so one could keep some distance from the people. It's a shame that we have to teach people today where our food comes from and the miracles of life on the farm like calving and hatching chicks since today's generations do not have any experience seeing or being around farms anymore.

I watched a calf being born on Saturday and the faces on the people in the crowd were priceless. I spoke with the farmer who owned them and he a large operation near Mercersburg in Franklin County. He said that almost all his production goes to Land-O-Lakes dairy.

 

[TiogaLion]

My wife loves Sheep to Shawl. I enjoy it too. You can watch on PCNTV.

If you left home now you'd get there by the start. Admission is free but parking is about $15. Yes, you can find some place to park for free nearby but I look at it as a donation.

 

[PAgeologist]

I watched a calf being born on Saturday and the faces on the people in the crowd were priceless. I spoke with the farmer who owned them and he a large operation near Mercersburg in Franklin County. He said that almost all his production goes to Land-O-Lakes dairy.

Cool thing to see. I've seen pigs give birth, but never a cow. Seems risky to transport a cow that close to giving birth though.

 

[TiogaLion]

Cool thing to see. I've seen pigs give birth, but never a cow. Seems risky to transport a cow that close to giving birth though.

They had several at the show. The one I saw was fed it's first meal by bottle and the milk was from a cow that had given birth early that morning. Right after the little heifer drank she got up and started nursing on her own. Very cute. Momma cow was very proud. I watched for about 35 minutes.

 

[nittanyfan333]

Funny story regarding my wife's (girlfriend at the time) first time at the farm show. I grew up going up there. The farm show, the outdoor show... all of them. She, growing up in California had clearly never been. She was shocked at the level of "hillbilly-ness" in one place. Growing up on a dairy farm, I obviously took offense.

SO.... we got to a homemade salsa stand. They had samples. She, being of the messican persuasion, grabbed the hottest sample she could get. It was ghost pepper. She looked at the "dab" of salsa, told the lady "Can I get a bigger sample?" the lady said "are you sure?" my wife scoffed, rolled her eyes, and said yes. Took the bite and subsequently turned 4 shades of red, followed by a stark shade of white, then started coughing. I laughed. the lady laughed. My wife cried and hit me more than a few times as we walked away. Then she saw the butter sculptures and magically didn't say a word...

Also, when my grandfather grew up in York, he worked for Avalong's. He didn't work at the restaurant, he worked at the dairy. Avalong's took cows to the farmshow for judging, and my grandfather went with them. Back in the day, the hands that helped normally stayed there with the livestock. National Geographic came by one year, and my grandfather was in the stall sleeping in the hay next to one of the cows. They took a picture and it ended up in National Geographic.

I say all of this to say, the farmshow is very much central PA nostalgia, and i hope to one day bring my kids there to experience it.

 

[LionJim]

Awesome thread. Some things need to be said.

 

[TiogaLion]

Funny story regarding my wife's (girlfriend at the time) first time at the farm show. I grew up going up there. The farm show, the outdoor show... all of them. She, growing up in California had clearly never been. She was shocked at the level of "hillbilly-ness" in one place. Growing up on a dairy farm, I obviously took offense.

SO.... we got to a homemade salsa stand. They had samples. She, being of the messican persuasion, grabbed the hottest sample she could get. It was ghost pepper. She looked at the "dab" of salsa, told the lady "Can I get a bigger sample?" the lady said "are you sure?" my wife scoffed, rolled her eyes, and said yes. Took the bite and subsequently turned 4 shades of red, followed by a stark shade of white, then started coughing. I laughed. the lady laughed. My wife cried and hit me more than a few times as we walked away. Then she saw the butter sculptures and magically didn't say a word...

Also, when my grandfather grew up in York, he worked for Avalong's. He didn't work at the restaurant, he worked at the dairy. Avalong's took cows to the farmshow for judging, and my grandfather went with them. Back in the day, the hands that helped normally stayed there with the livestock. National Geographic came by one year, and my grandfather was in the stall sleeping in the hay next to one of the cows. They took a picture and it ended up in National Geographic.

I say all of this to say, the farmshow is very much central PA nostalgia, and i hope to one day bring my kids there to experience it.

Great stuff! Yes, many of the farmers and the teenagers still sleep in the buildings. If you look around you'll see cots and sleeping bags all over the place. The teens must love this event, with love being the key word. The butter sculpture is again magnificent and over 1,000 pounds of butter.

Here's a video of this years butter.

 

[helixville]

Back in the day, the hands that helped normally stayed there with the livestock. National Geographic came by one year, and my grandfather was in the stall sleeping in the hay next to one of the cows. They took a picture and it ended up in National Geographic.

That is cool.

 

[Bison13]

Three of my nieces and nephews are showing market livestock this week, lambs, hogs, goats and maybe one has a steer. Cant make it up due to work but its a great experience whether you grew up in ag or not.

 

[JWB389]

Took our daughter when she was about 5. I have a photo of her on a MASSIVE brahma bull. She had the time of her life that day.

 

[BobPSU92]

Went down Monday with 25 of my FFA kids. I agree crowd was light and without the FFA kids there it would have been a ghost town. They usually have a sow and a litter in the Giant center. If you are going two things to get to eat. #1 Cheese curds on a stick are a must. #2 Milk shake- I get chocolate but the new flavor black raspberry was real popular. I didn't really have time to hit the exhibit hall as I spent most of the time either at the FFA convention or in the Cattle barn (hall). Livestock exhibits of all species was way down this year. It was good to be back after not having it last year.

How are the scones and lattes?

 

[BobPSU92]

My wife loves Sheep to Shawl. I enjoy it too. You can watch on PCNTV.

I’m surprised you aren’t promoting the Fairgambit Enterprises Farm Show.

 

[fairgambit]

I’m surprised you aren’t promoting the Fairgambit Enterprises Farm Show.

One of your best ever Bob.

 

[PAgeologist]

They also put out a cookbook every year with a ton of recipes. Centers on ingredients you can find grown or produced in PA. You can view or download it off the farmshow website, and past years as well. We found a few good recipes that we have tried out.

 

[leinbacker]

do they still have the ducklings and the slide?

 

[s1uggo72]

I use to go as a kid. Not to look at live stock, but to look at the tractors, which my Dad sold.
We went to Hershey to something called Grass Land days. Best Pit beef I ever had.

 

[manatree]

do they still have the ducklings and the slide?

They did when I was there about seven years ago. However, they only had a few times each day when they were performing. When I was growing up, I thought they pretty much rotating duckling in and out all day. Either my memory is wrong or they got a better deal with their latest CBA.

 

[manatree]

Here's the schedule of events. The "sheep to shawl" contest starts tomorrow at 3:00. They start with sheep and end with beautiful colored shawls in about 2 -3 hours.

Sadly, 'Time Warp' of Montour County will not be participating this year. Personal decision due to the health concerns of some of their team members.

 

[ODShowtime]

I wonder if they still have maple candies that melt in your mouth. Those were so good.

 

[TiogaLion]

do they still have the ducklings and the slide?

They had ducklings but the slide wasn't there this year. They had a platform about 5 inches above a pool that they could jump into but it wasn't nearly as much fun watching. Chicks were hatching like crazy right nearby, if crazy and hatching can be used together.

 

[TiogaLion]

I wonder if they still have maple candies that melt in your mouth. Those were so good.

Yes, lots and lots of maple candies.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

 

[JohnJumba]

Do they have whip fights?