Penn Vet Highlights Role at Pennsylvania Farm Show

By Blake Jackson

Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) has been a key partner in Pennsylvania agriculture since its founding in 1884 and continues to play an integral role at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

This year’s show, held from January 10 to 17 and celebrating America’s 250th anniversary under the theme “Growing a Nation,” highlighted Penn Vet’s contributions to Pennsylvania’s $132 billion agriculture sector and its rich animal culture.

“There are few annual events we get to enjoy in our state that provide an opportunity for people to manifest the things that make Pennsylvania special like the Pennsylvania Farm Show,” said Roderick Gilbert, Penn Vet’s assistant dean for Community and Engagement.

Gilbert added, “We encounter so many stories from clients, elected officials, or simply folks who just want to say ‘hello’ and explore what the School of Veterinary Medicine does for the state.”

Throughout the nation’s largest indoor agricultural exposition, which spans 24 acres, Penn Vet faculty, staff, and leadership engaged with young people interested in pursuing veterinary careers, particularly in farm animal care a field with growing demand. They also shared details about the School’s initiatives, including world-class veterinary education, disease surveillance, diagnostic testing for food safety, biosecurity protocols, and both large and small animal care. Penn Vet’s Field Services team alone provided care to nearly 24,000 on-farm animals last year.

At the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture exhibit, a Penn Vet alumna showcased her training with Lucky, a German Shepherd from Penn Vet’s Working Dog Center, whose role is to detect lantern fly and box tree moth eggs in transported goods.

Meanwhile, Mary Jane Drake, assistant professor of clinical food animal field service, managed the Calving Corner exhibit when two Holsteins, Bertha and Pebbles, went into labor simultaneously. Pebbles delivered her calf, later named Quartz, around 8:35 a.m., followed by Bertha.

The School’s presence at the Farm Show underscores its ongoing commitment to supporting Pennsylvania agriculture, veterinary education, and animal health.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-artiemedvedev