UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center sits about 100 miles northwest of Harrisburg, but on Aug. 15, the site of Penn State's Ag Progress Days might resemble a joint session of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

Dozens of governmental officials that day are expected to tour Ag Progress Days and attend the invitation-only Government and Industry Day luncheon. The luncheon typically draws as many as 700 guests, including elected and appointed officials from the federal, state and county levels from across Pennsylvania.

Scheduled to speak at the luncheon are U.S. Sens. Arlen Specter and Robert Casey, Gov. Ed Rendell, state Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff, state Attorney General Tom Corbett, state Sen. Mike Brubaker and state Rep. Mike Hanna. Brubaker and Hanna are chairs of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs committees in their respective chambers. U.S. Rep. John Peterson also is expected to attend.

Among the public policy issues the officials are likely to discuss are the 2007 federal farm bill, ag renewable energy initiatives and Pennsylvania Act 38 (Agriculture, Communities and Rural Environment, or ACRE, legislation).

In addition, the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and the House Education Committee will hold a joint town meeting to address agricultural education and careers. The hearing will take place at 10 a.m. on Aug. 15 in the College of Agricultural Sciences Exhibits Building Theatre.

"Having this many key government officials attend Ag Progress Days is an indication of how important the agricultural economy is to the future of our state and country," says Robert Steele, dean of Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. "It also gives officials an opportunity to see firsthand how critical research and extension programs are to the development and adoption of new technologies that will drive farm profitability, energy independence and environmental protection."

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 Aug. 14; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 15; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 16. Admission and parking are free. For more information, visit the Ag Progress Days Web site at http://apd.psu.edu.

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Chuck Gill 814-863-2713 cdg5@psu.edu