UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- From dancing tractors to culinary competitions, Penn State's Ag Progress Days, scheduled for Aug. 14-16, will offer a wide range of activities designed to appeal to farmers and consumers, families and children, gardeners and foresters, and everyone in between.

The 2007 event, to be held at the university's Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, will be one of the most diverse ever, according to Bob Oberheim, Ag Progress Days manager.

"We expect more than 400 commercial and educational exhibitors,"Oberheim says. "For producers, this is a valuable opportunity to learn about new production methods and technology and improve their business. For consumers, it's a chance to learn how their food is produced, see what their land-grant university is doing for them, and take home practical information that can help make their lives better."

If you don't believe that Ag Progress Days offers "something for everyone," consider this: Everyone needs an ample supply of safe and nutritious food, and everyone has a stake in the conservation of our natural resources. At its heart, that's what Ag Progress Days is all about, says Robert Steele, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences.

"In sponsoring Ag Progress Days, the college intends to reach out to producers and consumers of food and fiber," Steele says. "We hope they come away with an appreciation of the role that research and education play in ensuring a strong food system, a clean environment, healthy families and vibrant communities."

Several new activities are on tap for this year's expo:

--PA Preferred Best Chef of Pennsylvania Competition. The Alleghenies regional competition on Tuesday, Aug. 14, and the PA Wilds regional contest on Wednesday, Aug. 15, each will pit four chefs in semifinal and final cook-offs using Pennsylvania-grown ingredients, with the two regional winners advancing to the state championships at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in January.

--"A Century of Solutions ... From the Ground Up." At the College of Agricultural Sciences Exhibits Building, visitors can help celebrate the 100th anniversary of Penn State's Department of Crop and Soil Sciences while learning about soil and water quality; athletic field and golf course turfgrass research; plant research for improved farm profitability, more abundant food, a cleaner environment and biofuel production; and geospatial technology programs.

--Theatre Presentations. New presentations in the College Exhibits Building Theatre this year include Helpful Tips on Home Lawn Care (Tuesday 1 p.m., Wednesday 4 p.m.); Agronomy Jeopardy (Tuesday 2 p.m., Wednesday 1 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m.) and Nutrient Management: Food, Farms & Water Quality (Tuesday 11 a.m., Wednesday 2 p.m.).

--Tractor dancing. At 10 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 15, the Roof Garden Tractor Buddies of Somerset will maneuver their tractors around the Main Horse Arena in a square-dance-style performance, complete with a caller and music.

--Deer Research Tour. On this two-hour tour of Penn State's Deer Research Center, visitors can view live deer and various antler displays and learn about deer biology and current research. Buses leave the Ag Progress Days corn crib all three days at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., with an additional tour at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 15.

Popular events from past years will return in 2007:

--Research and conservation tours. Bus and walking tours of the Larson Ag Research Center will reveal the science and issues that drive field- and vegetable-crop production, insect and disease management, crops for biofuels, soil conservation, water quality and forest stewardship.

--Machinery demonstrations. Weather permitting, daily demonstrations will include hay mowing (10:30 a.m.), haylage chopping (11:30 a.m.), manure application (12:30 p.m.), hay rakes and tedders (1:30 p.m.), hay baling (2 p.m.) and bale handling (3 p.m.).

--Food demonstrations. Cooking enthusiasts can get helpful hints on preparing nutritious and tasty dishes by attending food demonstrations to be held each day in the Family Room building. With a theme of "Eat Smart -- Stay Healthy," the hourly demonstrations will include canning and freezing fruit pie fillings, whole-grain salads, Penn State tailgating, kid-friendly recipes, low-fat dips, "souper" soups, delicious ways to fix vegetables, and other topics.

--Children's and family activities. At the Youth Building/ImAGination Station, kids can crawl through a "log" tunnel, see eggs hatch into live chicks, and learn about science, careers, the world, and more. Nearby, Shaver's Creek Environmental Center will offer live wildlife demonstrations. Next to the Crops and Soils Tent, families can get "lost" in a two-acre corn maze. At the Kid's Climb, adventurous youth can climb 40-foot-tall trees with the safety of ropes and harness, just like professional arborists. The Family Room building will feature exhibits and information about family fitness, finances, food safety and nutrition, and family togetherness.

--Yard and Garden Tent. Penn State Master Gardeners will give gardening advice and help visitors solve plant and pest problems. Flower arranging demonstrations will be held on Wednesday and Thursday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

--Equine Experience. The Large Horse Arena features horse handling and training demonstrations, breed clinics, mule-packing demonstrations, and Diamond Lane Farms Black Percheron Hitch. In the Small Horse Arena on Wednesday, Aug. 15, visitors can saddle up to ride a pony provided by K&B Stables. Displays will feature equipment and facilities, stable management, equine health and nutrition, therapeutic riding, horseshoeing, and other aspects of the commercial equine industry. Seminars geared to all levels of horse knowledge and experience will cover equine liability laws, care and feeding, trail riding, and more.

--Farm-Safety Demonstrations. Penn State safety specialists will demonstrate skid steer operation hazards with a remote-controlled skid steer, Tuesday and Thursday at 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. Visitors also can see a demonstration of the PAgricultural Rescue Training program, "Managing Skid Steer Entrapments," including emergency scene stabilization and patient extrication techniques, Wednesday at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

--Pasto Agricultural Museum. Visitors will see rare and antique farm and home implements in this hands-on museum of rural life. A new exhibit features tools used in the forestry and lumber industries. A silent auction featuring 400 lots of antique tools, furniture, photographs, Penn State football tickets, Penn State College and University milk bottles, and other memorabilia will take place Tuesday and Wednesday.

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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EDITORS: Contact Bob Oberheim at 814-692-5262 or by e-mail at rlo1@psu.edu. Contact Robert Steele at 814-865-2541 or by e-mail at Rsteele@psu.edu.

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