UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The many faces of Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences will be more evident than ever at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Jan. 5-12 2008 in Harrisburg. The college's showpiece will be a bigger, better exhibit in the Main Exhibits Hall just off the Maclay Street entrance, but the college's presence will be felt throughout the sprawling Farm Show Complex.

A display featuring the college's many decades of nutrient-management research and commitment to environmentally responsible agriculture and protecting the Susquehanna River watershed and Chesapeake Bay will share top billing in the Penn State space with a presentation of the educational and career opportunities available in the ag sciences.

"We're always looking for good students," says 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 the 2008 Farm Show. We look forward to meeting with families and students of all ages. There are many, many educational and career opportunities in the agricultural sciences, and it all starts at Penn State, one of the premier agricultural colleges in the nation."

Faculty, staff and students from the College of Agricultural Sciences will be on hand with information about the college's programs in the food, agricultural and natural resource sciences. With 21 majors and $1.8 million in scholarships available, the college has considerable diversity in its academic programs and many educational and life-changing opportunities to offer prospective students, according to Fernandez.

The college exhibit also will include displays featuring Penn State Cooperative Extension's 4-H youth programs and other family-oriented extension education offerings. "The 4-H youth development program exhibit provides an opportunity for extension educators to interact with individuals from urban, suburban and rural areas," says Christy Bartley, program leader for Pennsylvania 4-H. The exhibit will feature hands-on science activities for children.

Near the main Penn State exhibit will be a four-hole miniature golf course that incorporates quiz questions about pesticide safety around the home and farm. Designed for both children and adults, the activity is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Penn State's Pesticide Education Program and the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, based at Penn State.

Penn State also will take part in the renewable agricultural energy presentation in the new Expo Hall. More than 40 exhibitors will share the latest information on wind, solar, biogas, biodiesel and biomass technologies. The College of Agricultural Sciences will display agricultural crops -- such as canola, mustard, camelina and soybean -- that can yield biofuels.

"The university is showcasing its diverse research and outreach aimed at taking the abundant biomass resources of Pennsylvania and turning them into energy products," says Tom Richard, associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering, who will become director of Penn State's Institutes of Energy and the Environment on Jan. 1.

The Pennsylvania Farm Safety and Health Quiz Bowl will be offered by the college on Wednesday, Jan. 9. Teams representing 4-H and FFA groups will compete in a quiz show format to demonstrate their knowledge of farm safety and health hazards and recommended practices. The quiz bowl also enables participants to increase their leadership and public-speaking skills, according to Dennis Murphy, farm safety specialist and Distinguished Professor of Agricultural Safety and Health.

"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 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 FFA competition starts at noon, and the 4-H competitions begin at approximately 3 p.m.

Agricultural safety and health also will be highlighted in the Exposition Hall, where visitors will have an opportunity to identify hazards and win door prizes at the Farm Hazard Hunt display. In addition, spectators can learn about a variety of programs addressing agricultural emergencies and observe large animal rescue demonstrations in the Equine Arena on Saturday, Jan. 12. Check the program schedule for times.

Each year, more than 100 faculty, county extension educators and staff from Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences participate in the Farm Show as committee chairs and members, exhibit personnel, publicity staff and judging coordinators for competitions from beef cattle and poultry to maple products and mushrooms.

The Pennsylvania Farm Show is the largest indoor agricultural event in America, with 24 acres under roof, spread throughout 11 buildings including three arenas. Farm show officials expect more than 400,000 spectators, some 8,000 animals, 13,000 competitive exhibits and nearly 300 commercial exhibitors at the eight-day event. More than $465,000 in premiums will be offered to competitive exhibitors.

The show runs from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Jan. 5-12, at the Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, at the corner of Cameron and Maclay streets in Harrisburg, just off exit 67 of Interstate 81. Admission is free, and parking is $5. For more information, visit the Web at http://www.farmshow.state.pa.us.

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EDITORS: For more information on education and careers, contact Marianne Fivek at 814-865-7521 or by e-mail at mld1@psu.edu; for information about 4-H, contact Christy Bartley at 814-863-3828 or by e-mail at cek4@psu.edu; and to learn more about farm safety, contact Dennis Murphy at 814- 865-7157 or by e-mail at djm13@psu.edu.

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