The Pennsylvania Farm Show returns this year for a busy eight days.
Visitors will find traditional items such as the butter carving, animal competitions, calving corner, PA Preferred Culinary Connection, and of course the food court.
New additions are mixed in: craft beer sales, a cowboy church, and a new milkshake flavor from the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association, Black Raspberry.
Many are applauding the return of the in-person event following the virtual holding of the 2021 show, despite concerns about the highly contagious variant of the omicron. Others take a more cautious approach.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture said it is moving forward with plans to host the show with several safety protocols in place. They reconfigured the layout to create wider aisles and improved airflow through HVAC system upgrades inside the Farm Show Complex & Expo Center.
But Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding has warned those who feel uncomfortable staying home.
“For people who are concerned about their personal health or have particularly vulnerable family members or coworkers, this is not the year to attend,” Redding said.
Those who attend will encounter the usual sights, smells and tastes, from baby animals and tractor square dancing to gooey fried cheese cubes and batter-coated vegetables.
There is something for everyone at the event. To help you make the most of your visit, here is an official guide to the Salon de la Ferme 2022:
When is the show?
Visitors will have eight days to experience the Farm Show 2022, which runs January 8-15. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on January 8 and January 10 to 14, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on January 9 and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on January 15.
Where’s the show?
The Farm Show takes place at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center on North Cameron and Maclay streets in Harrisburg. The building contains over a million square feet with 11 halls and three arenas as well as over 9,000 parking spaces.
Parking at the Pa. Farm Show Complex & Expo Center costs $ 15 per car. File photo by Dan Gleiter | [email protected]PENNLIVE.COM
How much does parking cost?
Parking at the Farm Show facility and surrounding grounds costs $ 15 per car.
Parking is available on-site at the Farm Show Complex as well as outside of Harrisburg Area Community College on Wildwood Park Drive, and much east of the complex on Elmerton Avenue and Sycamore Street. A free shuttle service is provided.
Disabled parking is available in all car parks operated by the resort. Individuals can also be dropped off in the Cameron Street Lobby Circle for an even shorter walk.
Find out more about the Farm Show parking lot: https://www.pennlive.com/entertainment/2022/01/farm-show-parking-shuttles-and-traffic-where-to-drive-and-how-much-it -will- cost-if-you-visit-this-yeare.html
Are masks mandatory?
The Agriculture Department said it was following guidelines from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and encouraging visitors to wear face masks. Signs are posted throughout the resort advising visitors to wear masks and face masks will be made available free of charge.
“We suggest people wear masks and get vaccinated, but there are no plans at this time to require that or to check vaccination cards or anything like that,” said Shannon Powers, carrier. word of the department.
Powers noted that state employees are required to wear masks, as Governor Wolf requested in August for all indoor environments. Other sellers and workers are advised to wear masks, she said.
“We also suggest that if people are showing symptoms of COVID, they stay home,” Powers said. “Our volunteer population includes a lot of seniors. It takes thousands of volunteers to organize the Farm Show.
The 2020 Pa. Farm Show pictured in January 2020. File photo of Vicki Vellios Briner | Special at PennLiveVicki Vellios Briner | Special at PennLive
How can I take social distance?
To help with social distancing, changes were made to the layout of the resort and floor plans to widen the aisles for better circulation. Among the changes, a Pennsylvania vineyard sales / sampling booth in the main lobby has been repositioned to eliminate clutter.
As part of recent improvements to the building, the doors to the New Holland Arena have been converted to entrances / exits, which Powers says will ease the crowds in the main lobby on Cameron Street. The complex’s HVAC system has also been upgraded, she said.
Where’s the butter sculpture?
You cannot go to the Salon de la Ferme without visiting the Butter Sculpture. This is one of the hallmarks of the show. Each year, the butter sculpture takes up the theme of the Salon de la Ferme. This year’s theme is Harvesting More, celebrating a long-awaited reunion after a 2021 virtual show.
The sculpture has a long tradition at the show and is created from approximately 1,000 pounds of butter donated by Land O’Lakes in Carlisle.
The masters behind the sculpture are husband and wife Jim Victor and Marie Pelton of Conshohocken in Montgomery County, who began work on the creation in December.
What’s new this year?
For the first time, visitors aged 21 and over can purchase beer to take home. A craft beer competition was added in 2019 and for the 2022 show, 121 craft beers from 24 breweries (a judgment had already taken place) have been entered into the competition. Pennsylvania wines are also available for purchase.
The National Museum of Industrial History in Bethlehem will host an Ag Explorer educational scavenger hunt. Kids can stamp their passports and learn about the beginnings of Pennsylvania.
Cowboy Church will be held in the New Holland Arena on January 9 with non-denominational ranch-style service.
Visitors to “So You Wanna ‘Be a Farmer” in the main lobby will find a new urban gardening feature called Reinvent the Corner Store with Farmer Jawn CSA from Philly.
Two new breeds of rabbits – Dwarf Papillon and Polish Lilac – will be on display.
A Cornhole tournament will be held at 5 p.m. on January 11 and a country dance from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on January 12, both at the New Holland Arena.
At the Frontier Finals Rodeo, meet star competitor Anthony Lucia from Live with Lucia from January 13-15.
A dog competition for speed and agility will take place in the equine arena on January 13th.
Eating at the food court during the 2020 Pa. Farm Show are, left to right, Alexis Dunleavy, of Camp Hill, and Jordan Frederick and Stephanie Cammack, of Harrisburg. File photo by Dan Gleiter | [email protected]
When will the food court be open?
The food court is one of the biggest attractions of The Farm Show. This is where you can eat an assortment of Pennsylvania foods, from maple candy to chicken corn soup, fly pie, pork barbecue, and potato fritters.
It opens from noon to 9 p.m. on January 7 with a preview day including free parking.
On that day, the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association will host an 11 a.m. kickoff to promote Fill a Glass with Hope, a partnership between Feeding Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association and the American Dairy Association North East. Celebrity milkshake servers will be on-site between noon and 2 p.m. and a corporate sponsor will match contributions up to $ 2,500.
One of the food court’s major suppliers, PennAg Industries Association, has dropped out over concerns about the health of farmers and volunteers with rising COVID-19 infection rates.
Otherwise, the opening hours of the food court are as follows: 8 a.m. – – 9 p.m. Jan 8 and 10 -14, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. on January 9 and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on January 15.
The Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association is selling a new milkshake flavor, black raspberry at the Pennsylvania Farm Show 2022.
What’s new at the food court?
New this year, PA Cooperative Potato Growers will be selling pierogi as well as famous baked potatoes and potato fritters. Mushroom growers in Pennsylvania feature grated portabella nachos, wild portabella mushroom jerky, and packaged fresh mushrooms.
The Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association will sell black raspberry milkshakes as well as standard vanilla and chocolate flavors.
Look for vegetable stir-fries, veggie burgers and veggie corn dogs at the PA Vegetable Growers Association booth and apple salsa, sachets of applesauce, and apple candy floss from the State Horticultural Association of PA.
The PA Livestock Association is rolling out dried beef snack sticks and C&J Catering will sell Momma D’s pork and sauerkraut bowls and shepherd’s pie bowls.
The best times to go?
Opening weekends are usually busy at the resort, and parking lots are known to fill up quickly. The crowds often dissipate late on Sunday afternoon / evening. As for the days of the week, it depends on the number of school groups and the weather. Farm Show organizers say the best times to arrive are between 9 a.m. and noon, and the resort is often busiest between 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Can I get the flu or COVID vaccine?
The Ministry of Health will offer flu and COVID vaccines every day at its booth. They will receive the Pfizer pediatric vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 and the Pfizer vaccine for ages 12 and over as well as Moderna vaccines. The vaccines are available as a first or second dose or as a booster.
What to wear
Wear comfortable clothes like jeans, boots, or sneakers. A cloakroom is available in the Cameron Street lobby.
Can I watch the show on TV?
Once again, PCNTV will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at The Farm Show. Tune in January 8-15 on the cable channel or stream live and on demand to your favorite device. Subscribe at pcntv.com.
