Recognizing the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show

Floor Speech

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Mr. TOOMEY. Mr. President, I wish to commemorate the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show, which is being held this week in Harrisburg, PA.

Established in 1917, the Pennsylvania Farm Show is held every January and showcases the Commonwealth's vibrant farming traditions and finest foods. With 24 acres of exhibition space, it is the Nation's largest indoor agricultural event. This year's show will display more than 13,000 exhibits and is anticipated to draw half a million visitors from across the Nation.

The farm show always provides free admission and allows everyone the chance to learn more about Pennsylvania agriculture. It hosts a wide variety of events and displays including livestock exhibits, art displays, and educational workshops.

In addition to its hands-on exhibits, the farm show allows visitors to sample products that are grown and produced in Pennsylvania. Farmers display their fruits and vegetables while vendors sell local favorites, including pretzels, apple butter, and shoofly pie. As the occupant of the Senate candy desk, I would be remiss not to recognize the small, family-owned candy companies that also sell their products at the farm show.

With a nod toward education, the Pennsylvania Farm Show sponsors the scholarship foundation for students pursuing their post-secondary education in the agriculture field. Since its creation, the foundation has donated over $1 million in scholarships to youth involved in 4-H, Future Farmers of America, and other agriculture organizations. It is encouraging to see such a strong commitment to agriculture's continued success in Pennsylvania for the foreseeable future.

This weekend, my family and I will attend the 2016 Pennsylvania Farm Show. Farming is a vital component to Pennsylvania's economy, and I am proud of our State's dairy, livestock, and agriculture products. I look forward to the farm show every year, and I encourage all Pennsylvanians to attend this event to experience firsthand our State's rich agriculture history.

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