2022 PA Farm Show concludes, honors Pennsylvania Agriculture, ‘Harvesting More’

The 106th Pennsylvania Farm Show concluded Saturday, honoring the Pennsylvania farmers and producers who demonstrate what it means to be Harvesting More: more innovative projects, more sustainable practices, more access for all to quality local food, more engaged youth who will shape our industry and more growth for the industry that feeds our nation and our world.

“This year’s Farm Show served as a tribute to the agricultural community,” said Secretary Redding. “Over the past eight days, it has been a privilege to showcase the individuals who embody what it means to be Harvesting More. Pennsylvania agriculture is rural and urban. It’s livestock producers, urban gardeners, food processors, charitable food system partners, youth and so many more. Each exhibitor, vendor and visitor at the PA Farm Show is unique, but there is commonality in our mission. We are Harvesting More, together.”

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The eight-day event showcased agricultural and commercial exhibitions, livestock, educational demonstrations and more.

Pennsylvania agriculture is a $132.5 billion impact on commonwealth’s economy annually and supports more than 590,000 jobs across the state. The 2022 Farm Show theme, Harvesting More, portrayed how the agriculture industry continues Harvesting More to create a more bountiful, food-secure and sustainable world.

This year the PA Farm Show featured: 17 Calves born at the Calving Corner, 12 heifer calves and 5 bull calves. 360 chicks hatched. 12,000 pounds of milk produced by dairy cows. 71 Blue Ribbon Apple Pie entries. 47 cooking demonstrations at the Culinary Connection stage.

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Nearly 1,800 butterflies delighted guests in the butterfly tent. 15 college scholarships totaling $52,500, were awarded to agriculture students by the Farm Show Scholarship Foundation.

432 first year FFA students from across the commonwealth earned their distinctive blue corduroy coats at the 93rd FFA Mid-Winter Convention held annually at the Farm Show.

Half-ton of butter in the 2022 butter sculpture, demonstrating Pennsylvania farmers Harvesting More, together. The butter sculpture, was disassembled Sunday by 4-H members, goes to a methane digester on a farm and is converted to renewable energy.

Berks County at the Farm Show

A Berks County Brown Swiss won Supreme Champion Dairy Cow at the 106th Pennsylvania Farm Show Friday. Hannah Balthaser of Bernville, Berks County won with Northkill Creek Groovy.

PA Farm Show: Kirchenberg Farm of Fleetwood

Kirchenberg Farm of Fleetwood, accepted the award for first place cheese entry, second place award for Cheddar, Colby and Monterey Jack and third place for Flavored Cheese from Goat Milk, Sheep Milk, or Mixed Milk.

Champion Turkey: Exhibited Kaitlyn Flaherty of Bernville.

Kallie Josephine Smith of Gordon, Schuylkill County was the overall winner of the 2022 PA Farm Show National Anthem contest, ‘Oh, Say Can You Sing?’. Mikayla Davis, PA Dairy Princess of Leesport, was among the top voted on social media in the contest.

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Berks Weekly
Berks Weekly
Berks Weekly is an independent and locally owned digital newspaper covering the City of Reading and Berks County. Subscribe today: berksweekly.com/subscribe
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