Free Republic

Most states have a summertime state fair but in Pennsylvania, the Farm Show, held each January, is the most important agriculture event of the year. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture bills the Farm Show as the largest indoor agricultural event held in the United States. The in-person event, held at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, was canceled in 2021 due to COVID-19 mitigation efforts, although the Department of Agriculture did offer a virtual Farm Show last year with videos from farms and cooking lessons. There was concern about the 2022 event happening when in late December, PennAg Industries, an...

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania -- The first time Mee Cee Baker went to the Pennsylvania Farm Show, she was a 12-year-old 4-H member whose pig got loose during the market show and took off into the center of the massive complex. A chaotic scene emerged as the frightened animal ran haphazardly among the large equipment, tractors and people. Everyone in attendance, at least in Baker's 12-year-old eyes, seemingly chased it down or ran away. The next year, Baker, who later worked in education and outreach in former Gov. Ed Rendell's state agriculture department, said she found herself traumatized again but in a...