UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- More than 150 Penn State faculty and staff will play important roles when the 2002 Pennsylvania Farm Show takes place Jan. 5-10 in Harrisburg.

A showcase of the state's number-one industry -- agriculture -- the Farm Show is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

Visitors at the Farm Show will see evidence of Penn State's involvement in virtually every area of the sprawling 16-acre complex. At the College of Agricultural Sciences exhibit in the Main Exhibits Hall, the public can learn about a variety of programs:

--Penn State Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners will staff displays on composting and the "secret life of soils." Kids of all ages will be able to navigate the "Worm Tunnel" and receive a ribbon proclaiming, "I squirmed the worm!"

--Visitors will be able to "ask the experts" (Penn State faculty and extension specialists) about food safety and farm biosecurity.

--Staff from AgMap, an e-commerce initiative of Penn State Cooperative Extension, will be on hand to explain the program, which uses the Internet to help farmers, businesses, consumers and others find various agricultural commodities, goods and services in their area.

--The School of Forest Resources will offer displays and information about white-tailed deer, urban trees and Pennsylvania watersheds.

--College of Agricultural Sciences staff and students will provide information about college programs and careers in the agricultural sciences.

--The 4-H youth development program administered by Penn State Cooperative Extension will offer displays and activities to mark the centennial of 4-H in 2002.

The 4-H centennial also will be commemorated with a 4-H "Wall of History" and other exhibits in the Family Living and Agricultural Learning Center, on the second floor of the complex's Northeast Building. Pennsylvania's oldest 4-H alumni will be recognized during the Farm Show's opening ceremonies and hosted at a reception by Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Samuel Hayes.

4-H also plays a large role in the Farm Show youth judging events. Many of the young people who enter animals or products in the various competitions are 4-H members who have been taught and mentored by Penn State Cooperative Extension youth development agents and 4-H volunteer leaders.

Throughout the Farm Show, more than 100 Penn State faculty and extension educators will assist with livestock and commodity judging for everything from dairy cattle to maple syrup to mushrooms. Their duties include weighing in animals, handling entry registration and answering questions from the public.

In addition, a team of College of Agricultural Sciences media relations staff and extension agents will broadcast Farm Show news and judging results to more than 70 radio stations throughout Pennsylvania and beyond.

The Farm Show complex is located on Cameron Street, just off of exit 67 of Interstate 81. Hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Saturday, Jan. 5 through Wednesday, Jan. 9; and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 10. Admission is free and parking is $5 per vehicle, which includes shuttle bus service from the off-site lots. Due to construction, on-site parking will be limited to exhibitors and vendors. For more information, visit the Web at http://www.pda.state.pa.us and click on the Farm Show 2002 link.

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Contact:

Chuck Gill cdg5@psu.edu 814-863-2713 814-865-1068 fax