Supporting the volunteer-run national competition is part of the Shapiro Administration’s commitment to keeping Pennsylvania’s dairy industry a national leader.
Harrisburg, PA – The All-American Dairy Show and Premier National Jr. Show return to Harrisburg this weekend, celebrating their 60th year at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center. Five days of competition Saturday, September 14 through Tuesday, September 18 will feature more than 1,200 youth and adult contenders from across the U.S. showing the finest of seven dairy cattle breeds, cattle-judging competitions, and youth development critical to the future of the U.S. dairy industry.
Supporting the volunteer-run national competition is part of the Shapiro Administration’s commitment to keeping Pennsylvania a national agriculture industry leader. Dairy families from across Pennsylvania will be among top contenders in the show.
“Pennsylvania is proud of our hardworking dairy farm families and what they contribute to our communities 365 days a year,” said Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “We are proud to host their peers from across the nation for friendly, but fierce annual competition. There is no better arena than the All-American Dairy Show for showcasing excellence in breeding and cow care, and watching tomorrow’s dairy industry leaders test their skills and learn from the best in the business. The Shapiro Administration is proud to support innovation and excellence in the industry that feeds our nation and world top-quality, nutritious, and delicious dairy products year-round.”
Pennsylvania’s bipartisan 2024-‘25 budget includes 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 like PA Preferred® and Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail that introduce visitors to dairy families and their delicious products at creameries across the state. The budget also invests $10 million in a new Agriculture Innovation and Conservation Fund and $5 million to expand the services of the PA Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System in Western Pennsylvania. These and other investments complement Governor Josh Shapiro's Economic Development Strategy that recognizes agriculture as critical to our future economic success.
Pennsylvania has the second largest number of dairy farms in the U.S. and is ranked eighth in milk production nationally. The Pennsylvania dairy industry provides more than 47,000 jobs and supports our state economy to the tune of $11.8 billion annually. Pennsylvania continues to be a national leader in production of ice cream, butter, and Swiss cheese.
“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 learning opportunities and enjoying the fellowship of friends.”
The 2024 All-American Dairy Show will feature 1,200 national competitors exhibiting more than 2,000 of the finest dairy cattle in the industry. Youth dairy management, showmanship, and judging competitions during the show 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 14 at 8:30 a.m., with the PA Junior Dairy Show and resume 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 16 at 5:30 p.m., when adult industry leaders will also be recognized.
Contests conclude with the Supreme Dairy Pageant on Wednesday, September 18, beginning at 2:00 p.m. in the New Holland Arena.
Pennsylvania has taken aggressive measures to protect cattle and those who work closely with them from the spread of avian influenza. The virus is circulating in dairy herds in some states. It has not been detected in Pennsylvania. Competitors must have met stringent testing requirements, including providing negative avian influenza test results from animals and milk samples collected within seven days of the show. Competitors must demonstrate that they are following the requirements of Pennsylvania’s quarantine, as well as the health requirements for the event.
All competitions are open to the public. Events run daily beginning at 8:00 a.m. throughout the Farm Show Complex. 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.
Contact: Shannon Powers - 717.603.2056; shpowers@pa.gov
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