UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- How does agribusiness impact the urban Philadelphia area? On April 6, Philadelphia's seven state senators and 26 state representatives have an opportunity to meet with Pennsylvania's major agribusiness leaders to explore that question.

The meeting, which will begin at 9 a.m. at the W. B. Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences, is intended to help local officials better understand how Philadelphia interrelates with, and benefits from, Pennsylvania's agriculturally related industries and educational programs.

During the session, Philadelphia's state legislators will take part in both formal and informal discussion with representatives from major food-related trade groups and businesses, as well as leaders from Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences and other organizations. Rep. Ray Bunt, chairman of Pennsylvania's House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, and Philadelphia Rep. Kathy Manderino will provide formal comments during the event. A tour of the W. B. Saul High School also is planned. The meeting will be hosted by the Penn State Agricultural Council.

"The council is reaching out to urban legislators to help them become more familiar with the agricultural sector and its impact on the welfare of constituents in the Philadelphia area," says Jerred Golden, president of the Penn State Ag Council. "We also will have an opportunity to tour the most successful urban agricultural high school in the country -- W. B. Saul -- and meet with some of its students."

After the opening welcome and introduction at 9:30 a.m., Fred Davis, southeast regional director for Penn State Cooperative Extension, will discuss "Cooperative Extension in the Urban Environment." That session will be followed by the high school tour, hosted by W. B. Saul's principal, Thomas Scott, and student tour guides.

Rep. Bunt will provide the keynote address and Rep. Manderino will offer her comments at the noon luncheon. A panel discussion, "Perspectives on Land Use," will follow. Panelists will include James Shirk of PennAg Industries; Mary Bender, policy director for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture; David Sheppard, executive vice president of the Pennsylvania Builders Association; Tom Stouffer of Lancaster Farmland Trust; and Stan Lembeck, Penn State professor of agricultural economics.

The Penn State Agricultural Council is an independent association whose membership comprises more than 90 organizations that represent agricultural or related interests in Pennsylvania. They include trade associations for various agricultural, forestry and food processing industries; commodity groups and cooperatives; media; organizations that provide products and services to the agribusiness community; government-related organizations; and related general interest groups. The council advises Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences and serves as an advocate for agricultural education to both legislative policy makers and agricultural leaders.

W. B. Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences has 660 students pursuing a variety of agricultural majors in academic and vocational agricultural curricula from all neighborhoods of Philadelphia. Facilities include a 50-acre working farm (located in the city) with dairy and horse barns, beef and sheep herds, greenhouses and laboratories. Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences and Saul High School share an ongoing relationship through the Adopt-a-School Program, which includes a designated Penn State scholarship, summer apprenticeships, college courses offered at the high school and special demonstration projects.

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EDITORS: For more information, contact Jennifer MacIsaac at 814-865-3636. For more information about the meeting, contact Pat Heuser at 814-863-2822.

Contacts: Gary Abdullah gxa2@psu.edu 814-863-2708 814-865-1068 fax