Pennsylvania Ag Connection - Penn State's Ag Progress Days Offers 'Something for Everyone'

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Penn State's Ag Progress Days Offers 'Something for Everyone'
Pennsylvania Ag Connection - 08/14/2018

Everything agriculture and more can be found at Penn State's Ag Progress Days, which kicks off Aug. 14 and continues through Aug. 16 at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs in Ferguson Township, Centre County.

The event, one of the largest agricultural expos in the East, features 500 commercial and educational exhibits, crop displays, machinery demonstrations, guided research tours, family and youth activities, horse exhibitions, workshops, and the Pasto Agricultural Museum.

There also are many food vendors -- primarily local community groups and state commodity organizations -- offering hot sandwiches, lemonade, ice cream and other Pennsylvania fare.

The event typically attracts as many as 45,000 visitors from across Pennsylvania and beyond -- an estimated 60 percent of whom are directly or indirectly involved in agricultural production -- to get a glimpse into the science and business of agriculture.

Jesse Darlington, Ag Progress Days manager, believes everyone can benefit from attending the show, even if they are not directly connected to agriculture or related industries.

"Ag Progress Days has something for everyone, from educational activities for adults, children and families to commercial vendors, machinery demonstrations, and crop exhibits to provide agricultural producers with valuable knowledge to improve their operations," he said. "We encourage all to attend and learn about agriculture and the research being done at Penn State."

To make the most of Ag Progress Days, it is helpful to know some of the major demonstrations and activities that are available, including:

- College of Agricultural Sciences Exhibits Building

The looming threat posed by the invasive spotted lanternfly will take center stage in the College of Agricultural Sciences Exhibits Building and Theatre. The pest threatens Pennsylvania's grape, tree fruit, hardwood and nursery industries, which collectively are worth about $18 billion to Pennsylvania's economy.

Visitors can learn how to identify the various life stages of spotted lanternfly and find out how they can help contain and manage lanternfly infestations. Residents from any of the counties under quarantine going to Ag Progress Days or to any other locations outside the quarantine area should inspect their vehicles before traveling to be sure they aren't transporting spotted lanternflies, which are known to be adept hitchhikers.

Displays and presentations in the building also will highlight programs related to pond management and bait-fish production, hemp research, animal health, and agricultural policy.

- The Trade Show

Ag Progress Days offers farm operators "one-stop shopping" to compare goods and services, see the latest machinery in action, and find out about new methods and technologies that can help them maximize productivity. Commercial exhibitors will display virtually every product category, including field machinery, milking systems, animal genetics, storage structures, seed, feed, tools, trailers, sprayers, mixers, livestock housing, financial products and more.

Field demonstrations will give visitors a firsthand look at how the latest models perform under real-world conditions. New demonstrations this year include corn chopping, no-till drills, and one that will show farmers how to diversify their operations with vegetable crops.

- Youth Activities

The 4-H Youth Building will house several interactive exhibits and activities, focusing on expressive arts. Children can learn about 4-H programming in science, engineering, technology, citizenship, leadership and healthy living. Outside the building, Shaver's Creek Environmental Center will feature Pennsylvania wildlife, and visitors can walk through a live butterfly tent.

At the Kids' Climb, children can don safety equipment and harnesses and climb a tree like a professional arborist; a corn maze offers a fun way to learn facts about Pennsylvania agriculture; and hands-on exhibits at the Pasto Agricultural Museum will give visitors a glimpse into farm and rural life of days gone by.

- The Equine Experience

Horse owners and enthusiasts can enjoy a full schedule of training and breed clinics, demonstrations, informational displays and lectures. Penn State Equine Science faculty and staff will be on hand to provide information on horse breeds, care, training and more.

New this year, horse owners can join Penn State Extension equine specialists daily at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to learn about fecal egg counts. Visitors can bring a sample of their horse's manure to be tested at no charge. Samples must be fresh (less than 12 hours old) and kept cold (refrigerate at home; bring in a cooler to test).

- Tours

Free, daily bus tours will take visitors to the surrounding, 2,400-acre Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center to see Penn State research on production and management practices. Most tours require some walking or standing. Topics will include American chestnut tree breeding, feedlots and grazing for animals, high tunnel fruit and vegetable production, crop rotation, stream buffers and native grasses, hops research, and more.

- Farm Safety and Health

At the Farm Safety Demonstration Area, safety specialists will promote equipment designed to reduce the risk of accidents. A focus this year will be on tractor rollover safety, with local emergency responders conducting a mock scenario. Other seminar topics will feature guidance systems, sprayers and drones and how they can be used safely. At the Rural Health and Safety Tent, visitors can take advantage of a variety of health screenings.

- Crops, Soils and Conservation Area

In the J.D. Harrington Crops, Soils and Conservation Building, specialists from Penn State and other organizations will answer crop production, weed identification, soil conservation, and biofuel questions. Visitors can learn about crop and nutrient management, no-till practices, organic farming, and sustainable agriculture -- and even bring a weed for experts to identify.

The 2018 Pennsylvania Hay Show, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Forage and Grassland Council, will take place in the Harrington Building from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Hay producers can bring samples to be evaluated.

- The Family Room

At the Family Room building, families and children can play mini-games, watch food demonstrations, taste healthy food and drink, and learn first aid and firearm safety tips. Hands-on exhibits and demonstrations will cover topics such as diabetes and diet, home food preservation, consumer food safety, and avoiding insect bites. Visitors can watch the preparation of quick and healthy dishes, taste the resulting fare and receive copies of the featured recipes.

- Yard and Garden Area

Pollinator-friendly landscapes is a focus of the Yard and Garden Area. With pollinators in jeopardy, Penn State Master Gardeners teamed with horticulture faculty members to create and nurture the demonstration gardens -- located at the end of 11th Street at the Ag Progress Days site -- to show that supplying pollinators with food and habitat can be beautiful.

In connection with that exhibit, there will be an observation beehive nearby, staffed by experts from the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association and Penn State Extension. Attendees also can get advice on flower arranging, growing herbs, gardening, and growing in high-tunnels.

- Pasto Agricultural Museum

The Pasto Agricultural Museum offers hands-on exhibits to connect visitors to their agricultural past. A new permanent exhibit, "Wood, Iron and Steel -- Tools and Tool Making for Agriculture," will be unveiled for the show. Also new this year, the historic Greenwood Furnace State Park charcoal wagon will be parked outside the museum's front door. The museum also will hold its largest annual fundraiser, a silent auction with hundreds of objects available for purchase Aug. 14-15.

Sponsored by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, Ag Progress Days is held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, 9 miles southwest of State College on Route 45. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 14; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 15; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 16. Admission and parking are free.

For more information, visit the Ag Progress Days website. Twitter users can find and share information about the event by using the hashtag #agprogressdays, and the event also can be found on Facebook (@AgProgressDays).

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