Pa.’s Largest Outdoor Agricultural Expo Returns with Ag Progress Days Set to Get Underway

Penn State’s annual Ag Progress Days returns for three days of activities, events and educational opportunities starting on Tuesday.

Pennsylvania’s largest outdoor agricultural expo will be held 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Tuesday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. on Wednesday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Thursday at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center on Route 45 in Rock Springs.

“We try to plan an event that reflects the diversity of Pennsylvania’s agriculture in a way that provides value for those attendees who rely on the ag industry for their livelihood,” Jesse Darlington, Ag Progress Days manager, said in a release. “We also strive to showcase Penn State’s land-grant research and educational programs while offering fun, educational activities for families and consumers.”

As usual, admission and parking are free.

Now in its 46th year, the event is expected to draw more than 45,000 visitors and will feature more than 400 exhibitors from across the United States and Canada. The three days include special presentations and exhibits, machinery demonstrations, crop displays and a trade show that offers those in the ag industry one-stop shopping for tools and to learn about services and technology for virtually any category.

More than 80 acres are dedicated to crops and machinery demonstrations and 55 acres host indoor and outdoor exhibits.

While about 60% of attendees are directly engaged in agriculture or related professions, according to the APD website, even those without a direct connection to the agricultural industry will find much to enjoy, including youth and family activities, horse exhibitions, tours, demonstrations and food. 

Here’s a look at some of the highlights. A full list of events and times can be found at agsci.psu.edu/apd/events

Exhibits and Informational Sessions

• At the College of Agricultural Sciences Exhibits Building, presentations and displays will focus on a number of key issues, including the invasive spotted lanternfly, climate-smart agriculture and forestry, protecting animal health from diseases such as avian flu and vector-borne illnesses like Lyme disease.

• Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding and College of Agricultural Sciences Dean Richard Roush will host a town hall discussion on Pennsylvania agriculture and a session on transitioning agricultural businesses on Tuesday. Limited space is available but both will be offered online.

• The state House and Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committees will hold a joint informational session open to the public at 10 a.m. on Wednesday in the Red Barn annex. Rep. Glenn Thompson will provide updates on federal agricultural initiatives at 2 p.m. on Wednesday in the College Exhibits Building Theater.

• Penn State Extension and faculty experts also will be on hand throughout the grounds to provide information about topics such as crop, dairy, livestock and equine production, conservation practices, integrated pest management, woodlot management, farm safety, foods and nutrition, home gardening and 4-H youth programs.

Youth and Family Activities

• At the 4-H Youth Building, kids can learn about Pennsylvania 4-H’s many programs and the environmental science, shooting sports and camping activities featured this year. The Pennsylvania State Rabbit Breeders Association will have live rabbits and demonstrations, and a display sponsored Penn State’s Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology will offer hands-on activities for youth to understand common plant diseases.

• Nearby, Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center’s wildlife tent will feature live animals and presentations on wildlife including turtles, birds of prey, snakes, amphibians and insects.

• A butterfly tent in the Lawn and Garden area will allow visitors to walk through a large outdoor screen house with informational displays and live butterflies.

• New this year, visitors can wander through a a giant sunflower maze outside the Joseph D. Harrington Crops, Soils and Conservation Building.

• Hands-on exhibits at the Pasto Agricultural Museum, on East Tenth Street, will give visitors a glimpse into farm and rural life of days gone by.

• The Equine Experience offers something for horse owners and those who just love horses, with demonstrations and clinics, informational displays and presentations and performances.

Research Tours

Experts will conduct tours highlighting research on various aspects of agriculture throughout the grounds, with most ranging from an hour to 90 minutes. Those interested can get a free ticket and board the bus at the tour registration and loading area at the top of Main Street. A limited number of tickets will be available per tour.

Tours include:

• Animal research at the Livestock Evaluation Center

• Forest management, water, woods and wildlife

• Multifunctional stream buffers and native grass field

• Managing equine pastures and dry lots

• Managing livestock pastures with alternative forages

• Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center Farm

• New for this year is a walking tour of water wellhead safety that highlights how to keep well water safe for your family and your livestock. No ticket is required for this tour, which meets at the J.D. Harrington Building and lasts for about 30 minutes.

For detailed info about each tour, visit agsci.psu.edu/apd/tours.

Food

The food is among the most popular draws for visitors to Ag Progress Days, with a variety of Pennsylvania fare offered by local and state organizations. A dozen vendors will offer breakfast, lunch and sweets, such as prime rib sandwiches, pork barbecue, cheesesteaks, sausage sandwiches, pierogies, pulled pork, hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, honey ice cream, maple products and, of course, milkshakes.

Check out the last page of the Ag Progress Days Program for vendor menus and locations.

Getting There and Getting Around

The Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center Farms are located 5 miles west of Pine Grove Mills on Route 45. Use 2710 W. Pine Grove Rd., Pennsylvania Furnace, PA, 16865 for GPS.

Westbound traffic should enter at Gate J and eastbound traffic should use Gate M.

Parking is free in the grass fields adjacent to the show. No vehicle traffic is permitted within the main exhibit grounds.

To find your way around the grounds, an interactive map and exhibitor list is available at agsci.psu.edu/apd/maps.

The Ag Progress Days Program also provides detailed maps and schedules.

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