An estimated 500,000 visitors came to the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show to enjoy grand display of Pennsylvania agriculture.
During the Farm Show, Governor Josh Shapiro, Secretary Russell Redding launched another $10 million round of historic Agricultural Innovation Grants to support farmers and producers shaping the future of agriculture.
Harrisburg, PA – The 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show wrapped up Saturday, January 17, concluding eight days of events, celebrations and exhibitions featuring Pennsylvanians across the diverse spectrum of the state’s $132.5 billion agriculture industry and the investments by Governor Josh Shapiro’s Administration — working together to grow the future of Pennsylvania and the nation.
The 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show – Pennsylvania’s State Fair™ – kicked off a year of America250PA celebrations recognizing the Commonwealth’s role in the birth and future of our nation. The annual event connects the people who feed and clothe our families and fuel our economy with funding and support to feed their success and connect them with the consumers who rely every day on what they produce.
For the fourth time since 2023, Governor Josh Shapiro addressed 800-plus ag industry innovators and policy makers during Wednesday’s Public Officials Day luncheon. The Governor highlighted his Administration’s continued commitment to Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry and the farmers, producers, and ag communities who power the Commonwealth’s economy.
“Pennsylvania’s farmers today continue a proud legacy that stretches back centuries and do the noble work of feeding their neighbors,” said Governor Shapiro. “This year at the Farm Show, we came together to recognize that hard work and once acknowledge that our farmers and ag producers aren’t just part of our history – they are key to our future growth and success here in Pennsylvania.”
Secretary Redding met with countless influential leaders in agriculture and government throughout the 2026 Farm Show, as well as many of the hundreds of thousands of consumers whose local purchasing power supports the industry across the Commonwealth.
“During the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show we have celebrated Pennsylvanians in agriculture, honoring our past and investing in our future,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “America began here in Pennsylvania, and our future is rooted in Pennsylvania agriculture — in the care of the soil, our collective spirit of innovation, and our shared pursuit of progress. Together, we are ‘Growing A Nation.”
Among an estimated 500,000 visitors, special guests, including Pennsylvania First Lady Lori Shapiro, joined the celebration, along with a host of other state, local, state, and federal officials, and Pennsylvanians of all walks of life.
Here are a few glimpses of the milestones reached, and the Pennsylvanians in the spotlight in showrings, on stages, in stalls, behind counters, and behind the scenes around every corner in the million square foot complex, showing off the proud legacy and the prosperous future of Pennsylvania agriculture.
Growing A Nation: Investing in Opportunities for Agriculture Businesses, Entrepreneurs and Career-Changers
- In Governor Shapiro’s visit to the Farm Show, he announced the upcoming opening of the second round of funding for the first-in-the-nation Agriculture Innovation Grant Program. The Shapiro Administration has continued to fuel growth to keep Pennsylvania's nation-leading agricultural sector at the top by securing a total of $20 million for the Agriculture Innovation Grant Program and making targeted investments in sustainable farming practices, farmland preservation, avian influenza management and recovery, and expanding markets for organic farming.
- During the Farm Show, delegations from 37 countries networked with Pennsylvania agricultural trade leaders, seeking opportunities to buy Pennsylvania’s nation-leading products, and forging partnerships that will strengthen agriculture businesses and feed our economy in the future.
- Deputy Secretary Lisa Graybeal joined farmers and leadership from Pennsylvania’s Centers for Excellence to celebrate two decades of industry growth in Pennsylvania’s different plant and animal agriculture sectors.
- Recognizing Pennsylvania farm families who have kept the Commonwealth’s farming heritage alive for generations, Lt. Governor Austin Davis joined Sec. Redding as Pennsylvania designated 11 Bicentennial and Century Farms.
Giving Students of All Ages the Freedom to Chart Their Own Course and the Opportunity to Succeed in Ag Careers
- Grand and Reserve Champion livestock, raised and shown by youth were auctioned off in the Sale of Champions followed by 411 additional market animals. Proceeds fund agriculture scholarships and help fund the juniors' livestock purchases for the coming year.
- A portion of the $587,270 raised at the Junior Market Livestock Sale will fund Farm Show Scholarship Foundation scholarships in 2026.
- Eighty buyers donated their purchased steers, goats, lambs, hogs, and turkeys to the Central Pennsylvania Foodbank to provide healthy protein sources for families in need in foodbanks throughout the state. Forty turkeys from one of the newest Farm Show contests, the Jr. Market Turkey competition, were among the animals donated to the foodbank.
- The PA Farm Show Scholarship Foundation awarded 21 college students from 18 Pennsylvania counties and 10 universities each with $6,000 scholarships from funds raised at the 2025 Farm Show. The Bill and Betsy Macauley Foundation contributed an additional $1,500 per student. Funding expands career opportunities for students — many of whom grew up competing in Farm Show as FFA or 4-H students — in agriculture fields from textile science to agronomy to veterinary medicine.
- Sec. Redding announced a $600,345 investment in PA Farm Bill Agriculture & Youth Grants, including 15 matching and 47 direct awards to organizations in 33 counties, funding projects that will empower youth across the state to succeed in Pennsylvania's $132.5 billion agriculture industry. Labor & Industry Secretary Nancy A. Walker and Education Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe joined Secretary Redding to make the announcement during a Career Expo connecting more than 2,200 Pennsylvania students with career opportunities offered by 48 agricultural businesses.
- Monday’s FFA Mid-Winter Convention packed an arena to celebrate a Pennsylvania record of 1,448 students earning their blue FFA jackets for the first time — breaking the 2025 record by nearly 100. Another 536 student leaders were presented with Keystone Degrees — the capstone of their preparation for careers in science, business and technology — connecting them to opportunities to become the skilled, innovative workforce that feeds our families and our economy, growing our nation in decades to come.
- On a full day devoted to honoring military veterans, the Shapiro Administration announced a funding opportunity, renewed in the Governor’s 2025-26 budget, for $300,000 in PA Farm Bill grants to connect military veterans to opportunities in farming.
Growing Local Economies by Promoting Quality Pennsylvania Products
- Eighteen calves from four family-run dairy farms were born at the Calving Corner, connecting crowds daily with the miracle of birth. A host of volunteers demonstrated the hard work, passion, and care that goes into putting wholesome PA dairy products on family tables day-in and day-out – just one vivid example of the PA farm families who connected throughout the show with the families who consume their products.
- An expansive roster of culinary stars on the PA Preferred® Culinary Connection stage included chefs with Michelin star résumés working at Helping Harvest Community Kitchen in Reading — where a $459,000 tax credit through the expanded Neighborhood Assistance Program is helping the nonprofit feed struggling community members. Celebrating more than 20 years of the PA Preferred program connecting consumers to Pennsylvania agricultural products, 70 competitions and demonstrations took the stage, featuring master chefs from top Pennsylvania restaurants, TV culinary stars, pint-sized novices, and military chefs, pairing chefs with the Pennsylvania farms, wineries, breweries, cideries, and creameries, where their ingredients were produced. Visitors enjoyed samples prepared under the direction of master chefs by students from a record six Pennsylvania culinary schools and took home recipes to whip up PA-sourced culinary magic at home.
- Pennsylvania’s longstanding tradition, a 1,000-pound butter sculpture, featured defining moments in U.S. history that happened in Pennsylvania and progress in agriculture that has fed the nation’s growth. The sculpture was dismantled Sunday, January 18 by 4-H members, and will be recycled in a methane digester funded in part by a $130,000 grant through Pennsylvania’s $10 million Agricultural Innovation Grant Program. The waste will be converted to clean electricity that will run Reinford Farms’ Juniata County dairy farm and the surrounding community.
Feeding Professional Development, Education, and Growth for Agricultural Organizations
With sales figures still rolling in, the commodity-producer and youth organizations hosting Food Court booths during the show will continue to help their members reach the consumers who buy their products and feed Pennsylvania’s economy. Proceeds will fund professional development for their members, and scholarships for future members, and beef up the bottom lines of Pennsylvania producers.
- Pennsylvania FFA Foundation sold 25,000 slices of pizza, with 1,700 lbs. of mozzarella cheese, and 20,000 lemonade servings from 4,400 lbs. of lemons.
- Pennsylvania Beekeepers Association served 497 gallons of ice cream, 14,000 honey sticks, 2.5 tons of honey, and sold 950 lbs. of beeswax.
- Pennsylvania Cooperative Potato Growers treated visitors to 23,000 lbs. of fresh cut french fries, 9,000 lbs. of baked potatoes, 90,000 pierogies; 550 gallons of batter in potato cakes, 2,000 lbs. of baked sweet potatoes, and 20,000 lbs. of potato donuts, and 20,000 lbs. of potato donuts
- Mushroom Farmers of Pennsylvania sold 10,000 pounds of mushrooms in six menu items, contributing to their national leader position.
- Pennsylvania Livestock Association pleased crowds with more than 30,000 pounds of pork, beef and other products.
- PA Dairymen’s Association patrons downed 20,200 gallons of milkshakes,1,600 loaves of bread for grilled cheese sandwiches and 7,200 pounds of mozzarella cheese cubes.
Enjoy highlights including a video wrap-up of the week as well as full show results, a photo album of highlights, and news releases from the show are at farmshow.pa.gov on the 2026 Farm Show page.
Editors: Find more broadcast-quality video and high-resolution photos on PAcast.
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