Celebrating agriculture
It’s showtime!
The 110th annual Pennsylvania Farm Show opened this weekend in Harrisburg with a full complement of events, exhibits, demonstrations, competitions and food selections. And to be sure, there will be more than a full complement of animals (an estimated 6,000).
The 2026 extravaganza cow-kicked off on Friday, Jan. 10, and will run through Jan. 17 at the PA Farm Show Complex & Expo Center at 2300 N. Cameron St.
This year’s theme is “Growing a Nation,” celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. General admission is mostly free, although some events and attractions will require tickets or paid entry. – certain fundraisers, Showmen’s Association events and the First Frontier Circuit Rodeo finals (Jan. 15 to 17).
Parking is $15 per vehicle.
The show will operate from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily with two exceptions: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 11 and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the final day.
A number of younger participants will be showing their animals, with the hope of winning prizes. Some will likely be from rural areas of Washington, Greene and Fayette counties.
Perhaps the most visible attraction every year is a literal heavyweight: the 1,000-pound butter sculpture, a testament to dairy farmers. This year, artists Marie Pelton and Jim Victor of Conshohocken (suburban Philadelphia) used nearly 1,000 pounds of donated butter to sculpt a life-sized cow.
The light-hearted Mullet Contest remains a hair-raising experience for those displaying their lengthy locks.
There are cooking demonstrations and competitions, including Sheep-to-Shawl, lumberjacking and cow milking, along with agricultural education and patriotic exhibits and hands-on learning opportunities.
Among the latter is the “So You Want to be a Farmer” interactive exhibit, which is targeted to all ages and gardening skill levels. Exhibit workshops take place 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily in the Main Expo Hall.
Mushrooms have established a presence at the Farm Show, as the Mushroom Farmers of Pennsylvania introduced a new breakfast burrito along with Lion’s Mane mushroom coffee.
The Farm Show endures as a century-plus tradition across the commonwealth, which attracts large crowds for more than a week. Organizers strive to keep it evolving.
Gov. Josh Shapiro, in a prepared statement, said: “The Pennsylvania Farm Show is a powerful reminder of how deeply agriculture touches every corner of our state. It is more than a way of life – it is a driving force in our economy.
“Generating $132.5 billion each year and supporting nearly 600,000 jobs. The farms, families and innovations showcased here stand on a legacy we honor through smart investment and farmland preservation, with more than 6,600 farms 650,000 acres safeguarded – the most of any state in the nation.”
The PA Farm Show Complex and Expo Center is a massive facility, with an estimated 1 million square feet under the roof. It is owned by the state Department of Agriculture and hosts numerous events. There also are 60 acres of parking on the property.
The Farm Show is not the only nearby attraction. Visitors can expand their horizons – and waistlines – by visiting Hershey.
For more information on the PA Farm Show, go online to the 2026 PA Farm Show.