Madison Schultheis, daughter of Chris and Jenni Schultheis, showing her pig at the 2019 Pa Farm Show in Harrisburg Sunday afternoon. They won Reserve Champion, Lightweight Division! (photo by Judy Schultheis)
Governor Tom Wolf kicked off the 103rd Pennsylvania Farm Show, celebrating our state’s agriculture industry through the 2019 theme, “Inspiring Pennsylvania’s Story.” The theme, which will be represented throughout the duration of the week-long event, honors agriculture’s rich history and inspires the future yet to come.
“Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry is both a treasure and a powerhouse, contributing hundreds of billions of dollars to our economy each year, and the Farm Show is the nation’s biggest event to honor it,” Governor Wolf said. “Each year, people from around the state and the country look forward to attending, to experience both new events and see old favorites alike. I encourage guests this year to take time to have conversations, engage with others, and listen to the stories of Pennsylvania agriculture.”
The Butter Sculpture exhibit always draws the attention of thousands of attendees to the PA Farm Show.
“Nearly 600,000 Pennsylvanians are helping to write our story each day through their hard work, dedication, and passion. Through their commitment to sustainable agriculture, to conservation, to animals, food, and research; their work with their hands, with tools, with technology; and their efforts to provide for their communities,” said Sec. Redding. “Each tale has been chronicled in here in Pennsylvania, and the 103rd Farm Show will shine a light on them through an array of activities, exhibits, shows, and conversations.”
This year’s event will include theme-related events like a daily story time for children, interviews with real Pennsylvanians working in agriculture, and opportunities for attendees to engage and tell their own stories. It will also include Farm Show staples ─ the iconic treats and events that guests look forward to all year, like the six-horse hitch competition, theme days like Military Veterans and their Families Day, programs on the Culinary Connection stage, and the Sheep to Shawl contest.
Youth competed in age bracket divisions, eventually winnowing competitors down to division champion finalists. In swine showmanship, the judge looks for who best handles their hogs, whether they are aggressive or slow moving, and who makes sure the judge sees all dimensions of their hog.
Bailey Kasbee of Stoneboro, Mercer County, was selected as Overall Species Champion in the market swine show. Alex Stiteler of Dayton, Armstrong County was named Reserve Overall Species Champion for the show. Kasbee and Stiteler competed last night for Master Showman honors and the use of a new livestock trailer for one year in a new all-species championship showmanship competition.