A2S-Lancast*r Farming, Saturday, January 10,1987 Putting Down Roots After 80 years of wandering, an BY CRAIG BINGMAN Snyder County Correspondent BEAVER SPRINGS - Penn sylvania can be proud of the Farm Show and it’s heritage. This years show attendance is projected at one-half million (the record being 715,000 in 1974). The visitors will be viewing the most modern agricultural innovations in the world’s largest free indoor agricultural exposition - the Farm Show Complex. Roots of the Farm Show date back to William Penn days when he was instrumental in starting the first Philadelphia Fair in 1686. The Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, the oldest organization of its kind in America with Ben Franklin and George Washington as members, organized a show in 1785. And in 1809, the Pennsylvania Society for Improving the Breed of Cattle sponsored a cattle show at Bush Hill in Philadelphia. These shows were well attended as were others that followed, but a need for a central location to disseminate educational in formation was inevitable. The Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, respon ding to this need, formed the Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society on Mar. 29,1851. That same year the first state fair was held on Oct. 29, 30, and 31 along the river just a short distance from the present Farm Show Building. On The Move Each succeeding year saw the state fair in different cities Lancaster, Pittsburgh, Phila delphia, Wyoming, Norristown. Easton. Scranton, Erie. Williamsport, Bethlehem, Indiana, Uniontown, and Johnstown State fairs continued until 1899. In fact, a 30-acre tract was leased in Philadelphia m 1884 to build permanent fair facilities, but due to a depressed economy bankruptcy prevailed. Historically, several negative features dominated the state fairs admission was charged, no educational meetings for farmers were held and midways permitted all manner of sideshows. To remedy the situation the Livestock Breeders Association pushed to amend the old State Fair Law and take it out of the hands of the State Agricultural Society It wasn’t until 1907 tnat their per sistence paid off with a small show at the old Executive Building adjoining the Main Capitol In 1909, a "Regular Winter Fair” was held at the Chestnut Street Auditorium and Hall. A large show was held in the Duquesne Gardens in Pitt sburgh in 1911 Thanks to the efforts of the Livestock Breeders Association, the State Board of Agriculture, the PA Dairy Union, the Holstein and Berkshire Breeders, and two poultry organizations, the first Farm Show was created. Known as the Pennsylvania Corn, Fruit, Vegetable, Dairy Products and Wool Show, the 1917 event was held on two floors of the Emerson- Brantingham Building at 10th and Market Streets. The 10,000 square feet of space was room enough to accommodate 5000 visitors as well as 44 com mercial exhibits. The first floor, known as “machinery hall”, housed commercial exhibits and farm machinery. The second floor housed farm products along with commercial and educational displays. By 1925 the attendance at the Farm Show reached 50,000 with great crowds standing in line an hour or more for two or three blocks. As many as 16 buildings were used to hold meetings and to house additional exhibits such as the “Electric Farm” in the Pax- tang area and the Public library in Harrisburg. Other locations some unlikely-included; Rainbow Studio, Municipal Band Room, a. row of garages on Briggs Street, and the old Carbarns of the Harrisburg Railways Company. These buildings were so numerous that a map was created in 1925 to provide direction for the many visitors. A Need To Centralize Under such conditions, the fire was again kindled for permanent exhibition quarters. Support was received from newspapers, farm organizations, local businessmen, and the general public. In 1928 some cities began bidding for the annual show. In 1928, Governor John S. Fisher recommended funding for a permanent exhibition quarters for the Farm Show. The bill passed the House of Representatives, but was tabled in the Senate. But a lump sum was provided by amendment for the construction of additional state buildings. So, even though the funding was not appropriated itinerant state fair finds home in Harrisburg SSFSSP I** - Mm- 4 « % »w * mw ***- mm r * * mm m* Although the Farm Show Complex hosts a wide variety of shows throughout the year, the ornate concrete sculpture adorning the main building says, "agriculture” to all who pass through its doors. directly for the Farm Show Building, expenses were shared between it and the newly proposed Education Building. On Oct. 30, 1928, ground was Top producers are getting more milk and more money with Bio-Boost feed supplement Bio-Boost is a new dairy feed supplement developed by Romak Nutrition of Maryland. Our product isa combination of volatile fatty acids, vitamins, and other nutrients and enzymes. Dairy producers are making Bio- Boost a regular part of their feeding program and reporting excellent results, including: INCREASED MILK PRODUCTION, as much as five pounds per cow per day INCREASED SALIVA FLOW, which sup plies a greater amount of natural enzymes for fiber digestion and natural bi-carbonate for improved pH balance. QUICK RESPONSE. Results are being documented within three weeks time FINER MANURE TEXTURE, an indica tion of improved retention of feed nutnents CONSISTENT FEED INTAKE, during nor mally lower intake periods. GOOD PALATABIUTY. Cows like the taste, and increased intake is common, par ticularly during hot weather. GREATER FORAGE BUNK LIFE due to Bio-Boosfs natural preservative character istics COST EFFECTIVENESS. Increases in milk production add up to a profitable return on your investment ASK YOUR FEED SUPPLIER FOR 810-BOOST Then put it to work for you! bio-boost ROMAK NUTRITION, Inc., P.O. BoxB3, Kennedyville, MD 21645 (301) 778-6823 iSS3» . Wt broken for Lowrey and Green to begin work on the new Farm Show Building. The cornerstone was laid on April 1,1930 with the dedication being on January 19, 1931—the # wRk. opening day of the fifteenth annual show. The new structure provided 425,000 square feet of floor space (Turn to Page A3O) “We noticed increasei in pro duction since we’ve been on Bio- Boost. We got about a five pound increase during warm weather. Ilfs a combination of things - how your ration is balanced, the qua lity of your forage* and basically, good management. But we believe Bio-Boost is another tool that can help milk production - it’s definitely been a factor for us” Greg Grove Bridgewater VA "I was on isoacids for six weeks and I didn't see any difference, but when I went on Bio-Boost, I saw a big increase in milk. I was really surprised. The forage doesn’t seem to spoil as quickly, especially in the summer. Plus, the cows seem to clean it up a little better. ” Donald Burdette Chestertown MD “We have a fistulated cow in the herd, and we were able to measure a considerable increase in saliva, resulting in a higher pH of the rumen. But the most dra matic news about using Bio-Boost was the increase of more than five pounds of milk per cow per day. ” Edwin Fry Chestertown, MD “Using Bio-Boost has been a positive experience - for us, it was a three to five pound in crease. And we noticed it in about two weeks time, ft’s true that Bio-Boost works. I know it worked for us." Dale Heatwole Dayton, VA
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers