PA Farm Show Guide: Free Samples, Celebrity Chefs, Tasty Demos

Planning to visit the 2015 PA Farm Show when it kicks off Saturday?

Here’s a quick guide to where you can see the celebrity chefs, snag a free sample and catch a cooking demo.

The PA Farm Show runs Saturday through Jan. 17 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. If you’re looking for food, you’ll want to head to the PA Preferred Culinary Connection stage in the complex’s Main Hall.

According to a news release, samples of each dish will be offered to audience members and Pennsylvania wines may be recommended for pairings.

Read more: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/food/index.ssf/2015/01/your_guide_pa_farm_shows_free.html

96th Annual Ephrata Fair Kicks Off Tuesday

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lancaster County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ninety-six years young, the Ephrata Fair takes to the streets of the borough starting Tuesday.

The county’s oldest fair fills Main Street from Lincoln Avenue to Park Avenue, and State Street from Locust to Fulton, stopping just short of the Pioneer Fire Company building.

On the midway, the fair-goer will find food stands selling everything from full meals to sandwiches and cotton candy, including the Akron Lions’ Club’s famous toasted cheeseburger, along with games of chance and rides for all age groups, provided by Houghton Enterprises Inc. In Thomas Grater Memorial Park, Lancaster County’s youth shows off the best in livestock.

On Wednesday, the 81st annual Ephrata Fair Parade takes to the streets. This year’s edition features not one, not two, but three Mummers bands from Philadelphia, the Fralinger String band, the Uptown String Band and the Quaker City String Band, first place winners in the 2014 Mummers Day Parade.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/ephrata/news/th-annual-ephrata-fair-kicks-off-tuesday/article_dc00a0aa-3ddc-11e4-95be-0017a43b2370.html

Fair Website: ephratafair.org

‘Devastating For Our Industry’: Pig Virus Affects Local Farmers, Market Prices, Grange Fair

Counties constituting the Happy Valley Region of Pennsylvania (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When Charlie Hall sells pigs, customers never set foot on his Unionville-area farm.

“We actually meet them half a mile away and transfer the pigs directly from one trailer to another,” Hall said.

The threat of a growing pig disease has local farmers embracing biosecurity measures to protect their farms and livelihoods.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, or PEDv, is pushing up pork prices and prompting action on the national level.

Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/2014/06/15/4225628/devastating-for-our-industry-pig.html#storylink=cpy

Pennsylvania State Association Of County Fairs Guide For 2013

Click here for a link to the 2013 Pennsylvania State Fair Guide.  Fairs are listed in date order – http://honeymoons.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=honeymoons&cdn=travel&tm=10&f=00&su=p284.13.342.ip_p531.60.342.ip_&tt=2&bt=3&bts=3&zu=http%3A//www.pafairs.org/fairsmain.asp

For an alphabetical listing, click here: http://honeymoons.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=honeymoons&cdn=travel&tm=10&f=00&su=p284.13.342.ip_p531.60.342.ip_&tt=2&bt=3&bts=3&zu=http%3A//www.pafairs.org/fairsmain.asp

Pennsylvania Farm Show Celebrates ‘Made In Pa.’ – Starts January 5th

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Dauphin County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s not only the largest indoor agricultural event in the nation but it’s probably the only place to see square dancing tractors.

It’s the 97th Pennsylvania Farm Show, all set to run Jan. 5-12 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg, where (among other things) two teams of two callers and 16 drivers will maneuver their tractors around the Large Arena in time to music.

It’s just one entertaining attraction during the eight-day event, which will feature some 6,000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits and 300 commercial exhibitors.

This year’s Farm Show theme is “Made in PA.  It makes a difference,” a motto designed to drive home just how big a role agriculture plays in our lives and how it is driving the state’s economy.

Read more:   http://www.mcall.com/entertainment/kids/mc-pennsylvania-farm-show-preview-20130102,0,2643314.story

Record-Setting Rains Hurting NEPA Farmers

 

Editor’s Note: This is a good awareness story during Farm Show Week!

JEFFERSON TWP., PA – Will Keating looked at the depleted hay stockpile in his barn and thought about the impact on his dairy farm.

“It will cost us another $15,000 to $18,000 to get through the winter,” Mr. Keating said as his herd of 38 milking cows lounged in theMountCobbbarn. “The hay took a big hit and quality is down. It’s very frustrating.”

Drenching summer rainfall severely diminished production of forage crops, such as feed corn and hay, on many regional dairy farms. Months after the record-setting rains ceased, the shortfall forces dairy farmers to buy hay and feed they would not need after a normal growing season.

“My hay crop was the worst I ever had,” said Joe Davitt, a Waymart-area dairy farmer. “It’s going to cost me probably $2,000 a month to feed my cattle. In a normal winter, I don’t have any added expenses.”

Read more: http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/record-setting-rains-hurting-area-farmers-1.1255054#ixzz1iygMGUIF

Bloomsburg Fair CANCELLED!!!!!

Image via Wikipedia

The Bloomsburg Fair Grounds were completely inundated by flood waters from Tropical Storm Lee.  As of today, September 12th, the fair’s board of directors have cancelled this year’s fair.

A statement was released via Twitter saying after careful consideration the board of directors has decided not to have the fair this year.

If you click on the fair’s website, it says FAIR CANCELLED, Please check back tomorrow for further information.

Here is a link to their website: http://bloomsburgfair.com/

Homemade Ice Cream Social, Saturday, August 27 – 3 pm to 6 pm

Image via Wikipedia

Homemade Ice Cream Social

(Flavors to come try ~ Peach, Strawberry, Chocolate and Vanilla)

at

Vinemont Community Lutheran Church

1278 Fritztown Road, Reinholds 

Saturday, August 27

3 to 6 pm

Proceeds to benefit

Horn of Africa 

Drought Relief In Somalia

Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and other countries in the Horn of Africa and the East Africa region are experiencing the worst drought in 60 years. Two years of sporadic rain – and the driest year since 1951 – have resulted in severely reduced access to drinking water and major crop and livestock loss. The UN estimates that 11.6 million people are at risk, including 2.2 million malnourished children. 500,000 of these children face imminent life-threatening conditions. In hard hit areas, like South Central Somalia, masses of people are leaving their homes in order to meet their basic need of food and water.

Image via Wikipedia

2011 Pennsylvania State Fair Guide

Here it is folks, back by popular demand, the PA State Fair Guide.  This handy PDF file shows Pennsylvania, broken down by region, and all the events taking place this year.  Do not sit home wondering what to do with yourselves this summer.   Get out there and experience Pennsylvania!

Click below for the link to all the info:

http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_24476_10297_0_43/AgWebsite/Files/Publications/PA%20Fair%20Guide_2011v79optiv3.pdf

95th Annual Pennsylvania State Farm Show Starts Saturday

If you are looking for an escape from the post-holiday slump, this could be your ticket.  The 95th Annual Pennsylvania State Farm Show opens this Saturday, January 8th and runs through January 15th.  Admission is FREE and parking is only $10 and includes shuttle bus service to the Farm Show Complex.

The Farm Show Complex is located on North Cameron Street in Harrisburg.  Click on this link to see daily highlights of events and entertainment:

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/01/pennsylvania_state_farm_show_s.html