UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The 2003 version of the Pennsylvania Farm Show will be bigger and better than ever -- expanded from six to eight days and taking place in the newly renovated and greatly expanded complex -- and Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences will take advantage of the broader stage to show off what it has to offer students.

As usual, the college will play a big role in the annual showcase of the state's number-one industry -- agriculture -- Jan. 11-18. Visitors will see evidence of Penn State's involvement in virtually every area of the sprawling complex. 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.

The college's exhibit and the horticulture department's display -- side by side in a new location in the Main Exhibit Hall -- have been revamped. The college booth is focused on recruiting students by showing the diverse curricula available. The horticulture display will include an "Ask the Experts" forum where visitors can get their home and garden questions answered by horticulture specialists, master gardeners and extension agents.

The Penn State 4-H display in the Family Living Complex will tell the story of what it is like to be a 4-H member. Current 4-H members will be there to talk to youths about joining the organization and 4-H alumni are encouraged to stop by, say hello and sign up to receive a newsletter.

At the college's exhibit, the public can learn about a variety of programs and talk to faculty and current students about their academic experiences. The College of Agricultural Sciences has the largest scholarship program at the university, and staff will be on hand to talk with prospective students about admission to Penn State, financial aid and scholarships, changing location to main campus and any other questions about student life at Penn State.

Also featured will be the Penn State Pullers, 1/4-scale competition tractors designed and built by agricultural engineering students, hands-on activity tables with interactive experiments and games involving everything from wildlife, to animal sciences, to food science, to horticulture and crops and soils. The public is encouraged to take a few minutes to relax and watch the continuously playing videos about international study opportunities offered by the college and about Ag Progress Days, one of the largest outdoor agricultural shows in the East.

Information about all majors will be available, and visitors will have opportunities to talk one-on-one to college officials and ask questions about financial aid, academic programs and cooperative extension.

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. 11 through Friday, Jan. 17; and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18. Admission is free and parking is $5 per vehicle, which includes shuttle bus service from the off-site lots.

For more information, visit the Web at http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/ and click on the Farm Show 2003 link.

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EDITORS: For more information, contact Denise Connelly at 814-865-0113.

Contact: Jeff Mulhollem jjm29@psu.edu 814-863-2719 814-863-9877 fax #292