Penn College Showcases Tech at 2026 Farm Show

By Blake Jackson

Pennsylvania College of Technology will once again highlight its hands-on applied technology programs during the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show.

The annual event, themed “Growing a Nation,” runs Jan. 10-17, 2026, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg.

At its booth in the Giant Expo Hall, Penn College will offer a range of interactive demonstrations, while culinary and baking students will assist with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s PA Preferred Culinary Connection stage in the Main Hall.

Daily booth activities include:

• Jan. 10: Creating cyanotype “sun prints” with graphic design and photography faculty.
• Jan. 11: Experiencing emergency management through hands-on demonstrations.
• Jan. 12 & 16: Using a laparoscopic surgery simulator provided by the physician assistant program.
• Jan. 13: Participating in a horticultural Q&A with landscape/plant technology faculty.
• Jan. 14: Making electrical circuits with diesel equipment technology faculty.
• Jan. 15: Honoring military personnel alongside the college’s Veteran & Military Services staff.
• Jan. 17: Designing buttons and 3D pen creations at The Dr. Welch Workshop: A Makerspace at Penn College.

At the Culinary Connection Stage, students will assist chefs in preparing dishes made with Pennsylvania ingredients. Highlights include demonstrations by Chef Mike S. Dinan, Chef Michael J. Ditchfield, alumni chefs Colby Janowitz and Adam Diltz, and appearances by Bryan Voltaggio and former White House chef John Moeller.

The event concludes Jan. 11 with the School Cooking Challenge, where student culinarians compete live using a “mystery basket” of local ingredients.

The Pennsylvania Farm Show, the nation’s largest indoor agricultural exposition, features more than 5,000 animals, over 12,000 competitive entries from 4,600+ participants, 250 commercial exhibits, and numerous educational activities.

Daily hours are 8 a.m.-9 p.m., except Jan. 11 (closing at 8 p.m.) and Jan. 17 (closing at 5 p.m.). Admission is free, with on-site parking at $15 per vehicle.

Photo Credit: pennsylvania-farm-show