UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State exhibit area in the Main Hall at the 2006 Pennsylvania Farm Show, Jan. 7-14 in Harrisburg, will focus on educational opportunities and careers for students interested in the food, agricultural and natural resource sciences.

With 19 majors and $1.6 million in scholarships available, the College of Agricultural Sciences, has considerable diversity and many opportunities to offer prospective students, according to J. Marcos Fernandez, associate dean for undergraduate education. "We are excited about showcasing the numerous fulfilling careers associated with agriculture and renewable natural resources at this year's Farm Show," Fernandez says. "We look forward to meeting with families and students of all ages. Educational and career opportunities in the agricultural sciences are bountiful, and it all starts at Penn State, one of the premier agricultural colleges in the nation."

Entertaining interactive displays will offer information about majors and associated careers. Updates on the new Forest Resources and Food Science buildings will also be on display. College officials will be on hand to talk with and advise prospective students and their families.

Also in the Main Hall, across from the college exhibit, will be an Ask the Experts" area staffed by horticulture department faculty and students. The theme, "If You Build It, They Will Come: Invited and Uninvited Guests," will relate to wildlife and landscaping. Horticulture touches everyone every day, and the importance of horticulture and horticultural crops is becoming increasingly obvious, according to Richard Marini, professor and head of the department of horticulture.

"In its new dietary guidelines, the USDA has encouraged increased consumption of fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet," he says. "In addition, the landscape and nursery industries are growing so rapidly that there is a shortage of trained employees to maintain the current rate of growth. This is a great time to be a horticulturist and a great time to consider a career in horticulture."

To learn more about career opportunities in horticulture and landscape contracting, Marini urges prospective students and their families to stop by the horticulture booth and visit with faculty and staff.

Near the horticulture exhibit will be a four-hole miniature golf course that involves quiz questions about pesticide safety around the home and farm for kids and adults, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Penn State Pesticide Education program, the Farm Safety program in the college's department of agricultural and biological engineering, and the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health.

Also, adjacent to the college exhibit will be a 4-H and Penn State Cooperative Extension exhibit promoting 4-H youth programs and family-oriented education offered by extension. "The 4-H Youth Development Program exhibit provides an opportunity for extension to interact with individuals from urban, suburban and rural areas," says Christy Bartley, assistant director of the 4-H program. "This year, children coming to the booth will have the opportunity to learn about the new food pyramid, healthy eating and exercise, while adults find out more about 4-H and how to get their children involved in the program."

As usual, the Pennsylvania Farm Safety and Health Quiz Bowl will be offered by the college on Sunday, Jan. 8. Teams representing 4-H and FFA groups will compete in a quiz show format to demonstrate their knowledge about farm safety and health hazards and recommended practices. The quiz bowl provides participants the opportunity to learn about agricultural safety and health while increasing their leadership and public-speaking skills, according to Dennis Murphy, farm safety specialist and distinguished professor of agricultural engineering.

"The quiz bowl helps young people learn about hazards and safety on farms in a fun way," says Murphy. "The kids can enjoy friendly competition while learning useful information that they can use for the rest of their lives. Teens answer questions covering many farm-safety issues, such as safety with tractors, mowers and other farm machinery, child safety, first aid, animal care and disease control. The 4-H competition starts at noon, and the FFA competitions begin at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Farm show officials expect more than 400,000 spectators, some 10,000 animals, 8,000 competitive exhibits and 270 commercial exhibitors at the eight-day event. In addition, more than $370,000 in premiums will be offered to exhibitors.

Visitors can sample Pennsylvania Preferred produce, watch young men and women showing their livestock or discover the latest in new agriculture technology. And they can stop by the Penn State exhibit and learn how valuable a college education in the agricultural sciences really is.

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EDITORS: Contact Marcos Fernandez at 814-865-7521 or by e-mail at jmf28@psu.edu; Christy Bartley at 814-863-3828 or by e-mail at cek4@psu.edu; Rich Marini at 814-865-2572 or by e-mail at rpm12@psu.edu; and Dennis Murphy at 814-865-7157 or by e-mail at djm13@psu.edu.

Writer/Editor Jeff Mulhollem jjm29@psu.edu 814-863-2719