Ag Progress Day, Pennsylvania’s largest outdoor agricultural expo, will kick off this Tuesday.
The expo will take place Aug. 8-10 at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs in Ferguson Township. Hours for the expo will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday8; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday.
Admission and parking is free.
Ag Progress Days is one of the largest agricultural expos in the East, featuring more than 400 commercial and educational exhibits, crop displays, machinery demonstrations, research tours, youth activities, horse exhibitions, workshops and the Pasto Agricultural Museum, which features hands-on exhibits and more than 1,300 items spanning thousands of years on display. There will also be food vendors selling items such as hot sandwiches, fried foods, ice cream and more.
The event, now in its 47th year, typically attracts up to 45,000 visitors.
Ag Progress Days has something to offer not only for the professional agricultural community, but also home gardeners, conservationists, woodland owners, horse enthusiasts, youth and families and anyone interested in the science and business of agriculture, according to Jesse Darlington, Ag Progress Days manager.
“We aim to offer programs and exhibits that provide producers with information that will help them improve their operations, while at the same time promoting agriculture literacy and providing practical advice and enjoyment for consumers, families, gardeners and others,” he said in a news release.
Here is a look at some of the highlights. A full list of events and times can be found at https://agsci.psu.edu/apd.
Exhibits and Informational Sessions
The importance of protecting biodiversity, best practices for preserving animal health and the spread of the invasive spotted lanternfly will be among the featured displays and presentations at the College of Agricultural Science Exhibits Building.
Other exhibits and presentations will include wild bee pollinators, avian influenza and disease in poultry, while U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Bellefonte, will provide updates on agricultural legislation.
Trade Show
Hundreds of commercial and educational exhibits will offer those in the ag industry one-stop shopping for tools and to learn about services and technology for virtually any category.
Field demonstrations allow potential buyers to see and compare equipment in action, from hay mowers, to drones to, new to this year, corn silage chopping.
Youth and Family Activities
This 4-H Youth Building will introduce kids to the many facets of 4-H, including the program itself, dairy product knowledge, raising rabbits and poultry, and what makes plants sick.
Other activities for children and their families can be found throughout the grounds, including a corn maze, a butterfly tent, the Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center wildlife tent near the Youth Building, and insect scavenger hunt, a biodiversity passport activity and exhibits in the Pasto Agricultural Museum.
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 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 https://agsci.psu.edu/apd/maps
The Ag Progress Days Program also provides detailed maps and schedules.
