By Blake Jackson
Visitors to the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show will experience a wide range of hands-on learning activities as Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Penn State Extension bring interactive exhibits to Harrisburg from Jan. 10–17.
Guests can spin prize wheels, plant seeds, test their knowledge, explore virtual reality streams, and even experiment with new agriculture-focused artificial intelligence tools.
Faculty, staff, and extension educators will guide visitors through topics such as food preservation, mental wellness, water quality, invasive species, and sustainable agriculture.
In the Giant Expo Hall, Penn State’s main exhibit will join the AgExplorers program, featuring stations that engage families and youth. Activities include mental wellness lessons, nutrition insights, invasive insect identification games, Master Gardener seed-planting stations, and demonstrations on safe home food preservation.
The water resources team will allow visitors to spin a digital water wheel and use virtual reality goggles to assess stream health through an interactive scavenger hunt.
Technology also plays a major role this year. The marketing team will debut Touchpix, a digital photo and video booth offering customized Penn State-branded virtual backgrounds.
Representatives from academic and alumni offices will share information about programs and offer planning guides, pins, and a drawing for a $150 Berkey Creamery prize.
Penn State experts will also support exhibits across the Farm Show Complex. Master Gardeners will assist with apple-industry displays and partner with the Pennsylvania Nut Growers Association.
Pesticide education staff will help visitors identify pests and select appropriate management tools. Specialists from the grape and enology team, the Christmas tree industry, forestry, wildlife, mushroom production, and apiculture will likewise provide demonstrations and answer questions.
Behind the scenes, more than 100 Penn State faculty, educators, and staff support competitive exhibits and events across livestock, apiary products, mushrooms, and more.
Their involvement reflects a 125-year land-grant partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
Dean Troy Ott emphasized the importance of Penn State’s role, noting, “When you see the crowds at Farm Show, you’re seeing the shared mission of the Department of Agriculture and Penn State come to life.” He added that agriculture remains a major driver of Pennsylvania’s economy, saying, “It reminds every attendee of the critical role our farmers and agribusinesses play in supporting healthy, prosperous communities across the commonwealth.”
The eight-day event is the largest indoor agricultural show in America, with more than 500,000 visitors, 6,000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits, and 250 commercial vendors expected. Admission is free, and parking is $15. The show runs daily with adjusted hours on Jan. 11 and Jan. 17.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-shotbydave
Categories: Pennsylvania, Education, General, Livestock