Last week was Farm Show Week in Pennsylvania, the annual celebration of everything agriculture has to offer in the Commonwealth. As one of the state’s largest industries, agriculture employs more than half a million Pennsylvanians and contributes $132.5 billion to our economy every year, and the PA Chamber is actively engaged on the issues that matter most to our state’s farmers, growers, and producers.
Spectators flock to the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg annually to enjoy its famous food court, view the annual butter sculpture, participate in the week-long slate of exciting events, and see the dozens of exhibitions featuring hands-on learning and shopping opportunities, including from many PA Chamber members!
The PA Chamber was proud to sponsor the PennAg Industries booth in the exhibition hall where lawmakers and industry leaders gathered between events.
The 2024 Farm Show theme, “Connecting Our Communities,” honored Pennsylvania’s rich agricultural history, including its presence in our daily lives and its universal vision for a stronger future where good jobs and healthy, farm-fresh food is plentiful. The PA Chamber was grateful for the opportunity to help honor this leading industry’s significant contributions to Pennsylvania and recognize its positive impacts on state revenue, food sourcing, job creation, and more.
This year – for the second year in a row – our own PA Chamber President and CEO Luke Bernstein took part in the Celebrity Feed Scurry Event, where participants partner with a 4-H team and draft horses to complete an obstacle course race. Luke took ninth place out of 32 total contestants.
Additionally, last Wednesday, members of the PA Chamber government affairs team joined Gov. Shapiro, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, PA Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, and state legislative leaders for Public Officials Day, an event that offers elected officials and stakeholders the chance to network with farmers, agricultural support organizations, and other industry members.
The 108th Farm Show ran from Saturday, January 6 to Saturday, January 13. The PA Chamber is proud to advocate on behalf of the growth and success of the Commonwealth’s leading industry, and we thank the dozens of companies operating in the agricultural sector whom we are honored to count among our members for their contributions to Pennsylvania. For a full list of our ag members, please click here.