Harrisburg, PA – Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding invites Pennsylvanians to taste the finest Pennsylvania-produced food and drinks at the 110th PA Farm Show’s PA Preferred® Reception. The Friday, January 9 event officially kicks off the 2026 Farm Show, Pennsylvania’s State Fair™.
“The PA Preferred reception celebrates Pennsylvania’s best, and the hardworking Pennsylvanians who cultivate it,” Secretary Redding said. “Their supporters in the Shapiro Administration and General Assembly, along with friends from across the Commonwealth, come together to begin the year with a feast for the eyes and the tastebuds. We hope you’ll join us as we honor the PA Preferred businesses whose dedication is helping grow a nation — nurturing our families, strengthening our communities, and sustaining a prosperous future.”
PA Preferred is Pennsylvania’s brand for locally grown and processed food, beverages and other agricultural products like hardwoods. Buying products with the PA Preferred yellow and blue logo assures you that your purchase keeps dollars at home, supporting Pennsylvania farmers and building a stronger local economy.
The PA Preferred Reception will be held Friday, January 9, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex. Tickets are $45 for the general public, $20 for PA Preferred members, and free for military-veteran farmers who are members of Homegrown By Heroes. Registration by January 2 is required. PA Preferred and PA Preferred Homegrown By Heroes members should contact RA-AGPAPreferred@pa.gov to obtain a promotional code to use at checkout.
Ticket price includes admission to the reception, parking, heavy hors d'oeuvres, beverages, and a debut of highlights of the coming 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show.
PA Preferred members and other organizations and businesses can support this event through in-kind product donations to the proposed menu. A wide range of sponsorship opportunities are also available. Supporting businesses and organizations will have their names or logos displayed during the event and will receive complimentary tickets. Sponsors can contact RA-AGPAPreferred@pa.gov by January 2 for more information.
During the eight days following the reception, PA Preferred members and products will be showcased on the PA Preferred Culinary Connection Stage. Grow your culinary imagination every day, every hour, with an all-star line-up of celebrity chefs from Pennsylvania and beyond, led by Bryan Voltaggio, American celebrity chef, restaurateur, and author.
Visit Culinary Connection to rev up your day with local flavors and inspiration, sample celebrity recipes prepped by future stars from PA culinary schools, grab a cookbook, and begin your own PA farm-to-table culinary adventures.
Find PA Preferred members wherever you travel, as well as in-season produce, profiles of producers, and more at papreferred.com.
Find more information on the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show, including a full schedule of events, a PA Preferred Culinary Connection schedule, and more at farmshow.pa.gov.
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