7 Things to See at This Year’s Pennsylvania Farm Show

The 2023 Farm Show opens Saturday in Harrisburg, with exhibits highlighting Pennsylvania’s farming industry, alpacas, and, as always, a giant butter sculpture.

The 107th annual Pennsylvania Farm Show begins Saturday at the Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg, celebrating the past, present, and future of Pennsylvania agriculture. 

The theme of this year’s show is “Rooted in Progress,” with exhibits highlighting the innovations that have helped Pennsylvania agriculture become the nearly $200 billion industry it is today, and the new developments aimed at bringing Pennsylvania farming into the future. 

This year’s Farm Show will also celebrate the 80th anniversary of the only year it didn’t run: 1943. That’s because the Farm Show’s complex had been leased to the US Air Force as a training facility for World War II. 

From crafts, to farming equipment, to food—lots of food—you’ll find plenty to do, see, learn, and eat at this year’s Farm Show, which runs through next Saturday (Jan. 14). 

Here are seven great things to see:

Conservation and Sunflower Exhibits

Pennsylvania farmers and food workers are constantly on the lookout for the best practices to improve crop yield while protecting the environment. This exhibit demonstrates their conservation efforts, with a focus on an unlikely hero for the Pennsylvanian environment: the sunflower.

So You Want to Be a Farmer?

Professionals from all fields of agriculture will answer questions about the industry and run hands-on demonstrations where kids can get messy playing with dirt, worms, and insects. The Mobile Aquaponics lab focuses on connecting kids with the jobs of the future and features specialized programming for children with disabilities. 

Forrester Farm Equipment LTD Display 

Who doesn’t love giant machinery? At the Forrester Farm Equipment Display, you can marvel at the show’s collection of historical tractors while  getting a glimpse of the titanic NF Forage Cruiser and learning about the high-tech farm equipment that helps farmers make progress in both efficiency and conservation. 

Butter Sculpture

Every year the Farm Show unveils a massive sculpture made entirely out of fifty-five pound blocks of butter. That’s worth the trip out to Harrisburg alone. The sculpture for 2023 (below) represents the Pennsylvania dairy industry’s tradition and commitment to sustainability.

The Animals

The 2023 Farm Show brings in a new crop of farm animals in all shapes and sizes, including the first-ever Alpaca exhibit, where visitors can pet these cantankerous Llama cousins and judge them in a costume contest. Visitors will also see horses, cows, and chickens, along with a hands-on walk through the dairy industry and the ever popular Goat Yoga. 

The Food Court and Market

There is an incredible variety of fresh food to sample at the Farm Show, with vendors from throughout the state putting out a smorgasbord of delicious meals sourced from the fields of Pennsylvania. We strongly recommend the milkshakes and potato donuts, but you really can’t go wrong with anything. 

The WoodMobile

Pennsylvania is the largest hardwood producer in the country, and this exhibit is a loving tribute to the talented lumberjacks and woodworkers who make that possible. Examine the machinery and techniques used in the hardwood industry, and take a tour through a collection of wooden oddities like handcrafted bikes and even carved legos.