UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Whether You're Interested In Farming, Food Science, Forests, Fillies, Families Or 4-h, You're Likely To Find Something That Interests You At Penn State's Ag Progress Days, Aug. 17-19.

Sponsored by the College of Agricultural Sciences, the event takes place at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, on state Route 45, nine miles southwest of State College.

As Pennsylvania's largest outdoor agricultural exposition, Ag Progress Days features more than 350 commercial exhibitors -- including nearly 50 new exhibitors for 2004 -- showcasing state-of-the-art agricultural technology, goods and services. Interactive displays, field demonstrations, workshops, guided tours and other activities are designed to showcase the science behind food and fiber production, as well as educational programs that are making life better for consumers, families, youth and others.

"The event continues to grow in scope and diversity," says Robert Oberheim, Ag Progress Days manager. "Our goals are to demonstrate the value and variety of programs in the college, offer enjoyable educational experiences for the public and provide a venue where farm and related businesses can learn new techniques and compare equipment and services."

"We Put the Science in Food!" is the theme of the college's special exhibits this year. Visitors will see how raw ingredients become the finished food on your table; explore the history of the University Creamery; see the future home of the Creamery and Penn State's department of food science; find out about a Penn State-developed food product that's "out of this world"; and learn about the many educational and career opportunities in food science. Daily presentations will cover topics such as home food preservation and foods for nonconventional diets.

Other events, exhibits and activities will include:

--Field machinery demonstrations. Visitors can see demos of hay mowing equipment, no-till and conventional planters and drills, manure application to reduce odor and preserve residue cover, hay rakes and tedders, high-moisture hay baling and bale handling. You also can enter a skid steer rodeo and compete for prizes on a timed track, as well as visit a ride-and-drive area where you can test-drive various makes and models of harvesters, tractors and other machinery from several manufacturers.

--Landscape, lawn and garden advice. Bring samples of plant, insect or disease problems and get advice from Penn State faculty and extension educators. More than 50 perennial varieties for cut flower use and 25 container gardens planted with different mixtures of annuals will be on display. Flower arranging demonstrations will be held daily.

--Tours. Guided bus tours of Penn State's research farms will allow visitors to get an overview of cutting-edge agricultural research, and special tours will cover beekeeping basics, potato research, vegetable production using high plastic tunnels, forest stewardship, grazing and more.

--The Equine Experience. An expanded educational effort of Penn State and the Pennsylvania Quarter Horse Association (PQHA), the "Equine Experience" features the 4aHorse Test Ride, which gives visitors a chance to receive free instruction while riding an American quarter horse. The Main Horse Arena will feature demonstrations by such luminaries as world-renowned trainer Richard Shrake and former Pittsburgh Steeler great Mel Blount, as well as breed clinics, working sheep dog demonstrations and more.

Workshops will be offered on a wide range of equine-related topics, such as horse shoeing and hoof care, nutrition and feeding, trail riding, training and handling, and showing. In addition, exhibits will cover equine health and nutrition, Penn State's horse programs, therapeutic riding and other aspects of the commercial equine industry.

--The Family Learning Hub. This area includes the Family Room Building, the Youth Building, the Farm Animal Learning Center and Shaver's Creek Environmental Center. Here, you can browse interactive exhibits on such topics as family finance, health and nutrition, food preservation and more; see food demonstrations; get an up-close look at live farm and companion animals and wildlife; see live chicks hatch before your eyes; and find out what 4-H has to offer.

--The Pasto Agricultural Museum. See more than 300 rare and antique farm and home implements in this hands-on museum of rural life. A featured exhibit, Winter on the Farm, will illustrate farmhouse heating and winter activities, outdoor recreation, transportation, and ice harvesting. Also see a century of Penn State Creamery milk bottles. The fifth annual Silent Auction will take place Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 17-18. --Crops and Soils Area. Here, visitors will learn about crop management, soil and water conservation, nutrient management, weed identification and more. Penn State's famous turfgrass program will showcase a simulated putting green, and specialists from Penn State and the Pennsylvania Crop Management Association will answer your crop production questions. See a wide variety of crops in the "crop garden," and check out educational programs offered by the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences.

Next to the Crops and Soils Tent, kids and adults can get lost in A-Maze-N Corn, a corn maze that is accessible for wheelchairs and baby strollers.

--Conservation Partnership Area. More than 15 federal, state and local agencies and private entities will present more than five acres of demonstrations, tours and exhibits. From forested buffers and grazing management to sustainable agriculture, fly-fishing and Pennsylvania snakes, visitors will get an overview of natural resource conservation practices.

--Animal Sciences Area. Workshops and demonstrations will keep visitors up to date on the latest in animal science technologies and practical techniques for improving management and performance. Presentations will cover various topics related to the birth of calves, foals and other farm species, and how to assist and care for newborn animals.

--Farm Safety Demonstration Area. Safety specialists will demonstrate tractor overturn hazards with a full size tractor. After the demonstrations, Northern York County Regional Police officers will discuss using farm equipment on public roadways. Also, see a demonstration of the new PAgricultural Rescue Training Program module, "Managing Tractor Overturns," including scene stabilization and extrication techniques.

--Food! Food booths operated by Pennsylvania commodity groups and local nonprofit organizations will serve everything from steak sandwiches, chicken corn soup and fried mushrooms to Penn State Creamery ice cream.

Penn State's Ag Progress Days is held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, nine miles southwest of State College on Route 45. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday. Admission and parking are free. For more information, call 800-PSU-1010 toll-free through Aug. 19, or visit the Ag Progress Days Web site at http://apd.cas.psu.edu.

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EDITORS: For more information, contact Bob Oberheim at 814-865-2081 or 814-692-5262.

Writer/Editor: Chuck Gill Office 814-863-2713 FAX 814-863-9877