Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center will host the All-American Dairy Show and Premier National Jr. Show, beginning this weekend and featuring more than 1,200 top adult and youth competitors in dairy cattle breeding and animal care from 33 states and Canada. Twenty-one dairy cattle contests from Saturday, September 13 through Wednesday, September 17 will feature the finest of seven dairy cattle breeds, along with cattle-judging competitions and youth development critical to the future of the U.S. dairy industry.
Supporting the volunteer-run national competition annually is part of the Shapiro Administration’s commitment to keeping Pennsylvania’s dairy industry a national leader now and in years to come. Pennsylvania dairy families will be among top contenders in the show.
“Pennsylvania is proud of our hardworking dairy farm families and the top-quality, nutritious products they produce 365 days a year,” said Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “We are honored to host their peers from across the nation to showcase excellence in dairy breeding and animal husbandry demonstrated by the best in the business today and youth aspiring to fill their shoes tomorrow.”
Pennsylvania’s bipartisan 2024-‘25 budget included robust investments in the state’s dairy industry, including $215,000 for the All-American Dairy Show, $169,000 for youth livestock shows, $1.45 million for the Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence, and continued investment in buy-local promotions including PA Preferred® and Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail that introduce visitors to dairy families and their delicious products at creameries across the state.
Also among investments in Pennsylvania’s 2024-25 budget, 20 dairy producers were among 88 recipients of $10 million in grants through the nation’s first Agricultural Innovation Grant Program. This funding is helping Pennsylvania agricultural businesses adopt innovative technology to enhance conservation and energy solutions — boosting profits, protecting soil and water resources, and generating more clean, renewable energy. Governor Josh Shapiro has proposed a $13 million increase for the program, which received more than $68 million in funding requests from 159 applicants in its first year.
With 4,940 dairy farms and 468,000 cows producing 10 billion pounds of milk each year, Pennsylvania ranks eighth in milk production nationally. Pennsylvania’s dairy industry provides more than 47,000 jobs and supports our state economy to the tune of $11.8 billion annually. Pennsylvania also ranks sixth in number of dairy cows, second in butter production, third in ice cream and Swiss cheese, and fourth in sour cream.
“We have another top-notch event planned and we’re excited to welcome dairy enthusiasts from across the country to join us in Harrisburg,” said All-American Dairy Show President Michelle Cornman. “We look forward to showcasing our junior exhibitors and seeing some of the best cattle in the country, while offering valuable learning opportunities and enjoying the fellowship of friends.”
The show’s youth dairy management, showmanship, and judging competitions sharpen the skills of tomorrow’s dairy producers and attract high school FFA chapters and collegiate teams from across the country.
Competition begins Saturday, September 13 at 8:30 a.m., with the PA Junior Dairy Show and resumes Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. with the Youth Showmanship contest, in which youth are judged on breed knowledge and livestock-handling, followed by the Invitational Youth Dairy Cattle Judging Contest at 8:45 a.m. The judging contest brings youth and collegiate teams from across the U.S. to demonstrate their poise under pressure and knowledge of what makes top cattle in each breed. Junior events conclude with the Premier National Junior Supreme Champion contest Monday September 15 at 5:30 p.m., when adult industry leaders will also be recognized.
The event concludes Wednesday afternoon with the selection of the new People’s Choice Award, in the New Holland Arena following the conclusion of individual breed shows.
All competitions are open to the public. Parking and admission are free.
For more about the All-American Dairy Show, including a complete schedule, photos and competition results, visit allamericandairyshow.com.
Learn how Governor Shapiro’s Economic Development Strategy recognizes agriculture as key to our future economic success, and find more investments in a strong future for Pennsylvania agriculture at shapirobudget.pa.gov.
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