http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/126300840859470.xml&coll=1
Sounds like a great time! Did any dopers go?
Nope. Even though I’ve lived close enough to go for at least 15 years, I have never been. I’ve to the farm-show complex, but never during farm show.
I have gone in past years and LOVED it but family problems kept me viewing on television rather than in person this year. I think the horse and pony pulls are better in person but I have to say that the tractor square dance was MUCH better on television.
I usually hit some of the county fairs in the summer, but I have never been able to drag myself out to Harrisburg in January. Its on my list for next January, along with the Detroit car show, Las Vegas… Dammit maybe 2012.
The Census had a table, so I was there for a few days. I also took the sprog on the first day, which is a Doors family tradition.
It’s an interesting experience. It’s not just animals (although there are lots of those), it’s all of Pennsylvania’s agricultural industry and those businesses and services that support it. As kopek noted, some of it is fun in person, and some of it is better on TV.
Most of the food is fried, but it’s not your typical Oreos and funnel cake fare. The Farm Show is the major fundraiser for many of PA’s agricultural trade organizations, so there are all kinds of meat and fish sandwiches, fried vegetables, baked potatoes and sweet potatoes, soups, apple, honey and maple products, and, of course, hot dogs. It’s even possible to find healthy-ish food like fresh vegetables and whole apples.
It’s also part trade show. There are exhibits for mechanical equipment, government agencies, food companies based in Pennsylvania, and nonprofit associations dedicated to things like birdwatching. Penn State has a huge complex of exhibits about various topics, and Penn has one about its veterinary school. Other ag schools have exhibits as well.
More later.
Well, if you weren’t such a slug…