E2-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 4, 2003 \ Building For The Future (Continued from Page El) class construction and dimen sions built for agriculture to in clude farm machinery, livestock, or other exhibits. A second, new large arena of spectacular scale for the largest or smallest of ani mals and their competitions. An other new bam to expand our ability to provide housing for livestock shows being hosted by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, such as the All- American Dairy Show, the Key stone International Livestock Ex position, and the Pennsylvania Farm Show itself. An upgraded area to host exhi bitions and conventions and con ferences and dining events. A new look for the Small Arena that includes individual seats, auction block, and three sky boxes. A 4-H and FFA dormitory. A new, two-tier concourse that connects new construction and the existing facility with conven ient and safe passage for animals, handlers, machinery, and visi tors. Easy access and movement around the spacious and expan sive complex. Air conditioning that makes the complex a com fortable, 12-month facility. When I became secretary of agriculture it was my goal to ob tain the necessary financial re sources to build new facilities at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. A new greenhouse complex. A new Livestock Evalu ation Center. A bigger and better Pennsylvania Farm Show Com plex. And, recently funds were approved to build a new biosecu rity laboratory for animal agri culture. The same is true of funds to develop another on-site park ing area on an adjoining land parcel near the Farm Show Com plex. When I became secretary of agriculture I did not want to just “clip coupons” for agriculture. I wanted the people of agriculture to have the experience of “cut ting ribbons”on behalf of their in dustry. There has been tremendous support of these goals on part of the Governor and state lawmak ers. I greatly appreciate their en thusiasm for these important ag riculture projects. Historic construction on several fronts. It has been an unprecedented team effort. While it is proper that we her ald the physical magnificence of the new features at the Pennsyl vania Farm Show Complex, and the other projects too, we should also proclaim what principles are at the foundation of all this his toric construction. It is about pro viding places for competition, friendship, fun, reflection, inno vation, determination, and goals. It is about agriculture. It is about the values found in the rural towns and townships of Pennsyl vania. It is about the vitality of our ag economy. It is about the social and civic contributions of people in agriculture. It is about the generations of families past, present, and fu ture. It is about grandparents, mothers and fathers. It is about our sons and daughters. They who follow years from now will not know us. But they will know what we did. They will know we were build ing for a good agriculture. They will know we were building for the future. They will know we were building for them. ongraiutations on the successful completion of the PA Farm Show Showcase! Tri-Boro Construction Supplies and The Euclid Chemical Company are pleased to have supplied quality products for your beautiful new facility. tfjßono I— SUPPLIES, INC. 435 Locust Street Dallastown, PA 17313 (717) 246-3095 • fax (717) 246-3506 Bigger, Better Farm Show Complex (Continued from Page El) how big that construction is take a walk down memory lane. Before TV, before video games, before the Internet, crowds would gather in the Small Arena —jam packed with visitors from all over the place and (believe it or not) watch a horseshoe contest. Or women with the latest fash ion hats, men with fedoras, busi nessmen with trenchcoats, and kids in bib coveralls would flock from far and wide to get a taste of what Ameri can Pennsyl- r“— — vaman agri culture was all about. Lancaster Farming's spe cial Farm Show Showcase Sec tion looks back on the past cen tury. We’ll see where Farm Show came from, how it evolved, and what happened along the way. Pa. Farm Products Show Until 1937 Several books have been writ ten about the Pennsylvania Farm Show. One of the best, and earliest, was published in 1937. That volume was titled “Histo ry of the Pennsylvania Farm Products Show,” compiled by historian Dr. George Fiske John son. The Pennsylvania State Farm Products Show Commission (now simply called the Farm Show Commission) published the book. Governor at the time was George H. Earle who worked with the well-known Secretary of 1490 Ritner Highway Carlisle, PA 17013 (717) 249-6448 • fax (717) 249-9696 Agriculture J. Hansell French. According to the book, in 1935, French thought it was time to put together an historical record book detailing the Farm Show at its 20th anniversary, Jan. 20-24, 1936. The book notes information was fragmentary. So Johnson had to speak to a lot of men, about six that he named in 1936, and including additional mem bers of the commission. Johnson made note of a lot of things, including the very begin- The meeting of 1917 proved a turning point, and 1917 could be considered the beginning of the Farm Show we know today. (Opening day was Jan. 23, a Tuesday.) nings of what we understand as fairs and farm shows. The world’s first “fair” was conducted in 1783 when the Highlands and Agricultural So ciety of Scotland was formed to advance “agricultural meetings with a general show of stock, implements, farm and dairy products, to be held in a number of towns in Scotland.” The gov ernment appropriated 10,000 pounds (about $3 million today) for the organization’s use. A lot happened along the way toward promoting large, state based agricultural fairs and expo sitions. But at the time of the book’s print date, in 1937, the Farm Show Complex space totaled about 10 acres in use for five days, attended by about a quarter of a million people. Compare that to 27 acres today with about 350,000 people attending. But how did Pennsylvania Farm Show begin? The Johnson book dates the story of Farm Show to about July 18-19, 1809, when the Pennsylva nia Society for Improving the Breed of Cattle conducted a cat tle show at Bush Hill in Philadel phia. Interesting note: premiums amounting to $9OO were paid that year for no sheep, as the public ought to be fully aware of their importance,” according to the book. The rest of the country fol lowed with similar cattle shows. In 1820, movements began in the Pennsylvania to “reward” people in agriculture and “domestic manufacturers” for their skill and industry. The General As sembly enacted legislation to form county societies to promote agriculture. The act promoted the first ag ricultural exhibition arranged by the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, on June 4-5, 1822, near Philadelphia, according to Johnson. 77 Milltown Road, Suite 87 East Brunswick, NJ 08816 (732) 390-9770 • fax (732) 390-9787 cattle and sheep, except the Merino sheep breed. Why single out the Meri nos? Well, they did not “think it worthwhile to offer a premi um for Meri- (Turn to Page E 3)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers