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-
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