UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Spin a prize wheel. Plant a seed in a newspaper pot. Put on virtual reality goggles to diagnose stream health or test your agricultural knowledge using a brand-new decision-support tool powered by artificial intelligence. These hands-on experiences await visitors to the Pennsylvania Farm Show, to be held Jan. 10-17, 2026, in Harrisburg, where faculty and extension educators from Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences will offer interactive activities and expert guidance on topics ranging from mental wellness and food preservation to invasive species and water quality.
Penn State Extension and College of Agricultural Sciences main exhibit, Giant Expo Hall
This year, the main Penn State Extension and College of Agricultural Sciences booth in the Giant Expo Hall will participate in the AgExplorers program, featuring interactive stations designed to engage visitors of all ages. Displays at the booth will include the following:
Family well-being and mental health — Extension’s family-well-being team will offer activities supporting mental wellness across generations. Visitors can spin a prize wheel and learn about extension programs designed to strengthen family resilience.
The health and wellness team will explore connections between nutrition and mental health, highlighting brain-boosting nutrients.
Master Gardeners — At the invasive species exhibit, Penn State Extension Master Gardeners will dispel myths about the spotted lanternfly, box tree moth and other invasive insects through a spin-the-wheel game teaching visitors to distinguish beneficial insects from harmful ones.
At the main Master Gardener station, visitors can create pots from newspaper, fill them with potting mix and plant a seed. Master Gardeners will answer gardening questions and share information about the program and upcoming training opportunities.
Food preservation and pest management — Home food preservation extension educators will teach safe handling, preserving and storage techniques to help visitors avoid foodborne illnesses and pests in their homegrown and homemade foods.
Water resources — Extension’s water team will offer two distinct experiences. Visitors can spin a digital water wheel to deepen their understanding of water resources and use virtual reality goggles to explore Pennsylvania streams as “stream doctors,” learning key indicators of stream health through an interactive scavenger hunt.
Technology and engagement — Penn State Extension’s marketing team will debut Touchpix, photo and video booth software that uses virtual backgrounds to provide visitors with personalized digital photos featuring Penn State Extension-branded backgrounds.
Staff from the College of Agricultural Sciences’ Office for Undergraduate Education and from Development and Alumni Relations will discuss academic programs and alumni engagement opportunities. Visitors can collect college planning guides and alumni pins and enter a drawing for a $150 Berkey Creamery prize.
Exhibits around the complex
Beyond the main booth, Penn State experts will staff several other displays to provide educational information and support industry partnerships:
— In the Main Hall, Master Gardeners will staff the State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania’s AgExplorers Apple Booth, teaching visitors about Pennsylvania’s apple industry through games and an Apple IQ Quiz Board. In a new partnership, Master Gardeners will assist the Pennsylvania Nut Growers Association in educating visitors about tree-nut varieties grown in Pennsylvania.
— The Penn State Pesticide Education Program at its exhibit in the Main Hall will help visitors match common household pests to appropriate management tools. Participants can spin a wheel, answer questions and win prizes while learning from pesticide education staff and Master Gardeners.
— Enology Extension Educator Molly Kelly and the grape and enology team will work with the Pennsylvania Winery Association in the Main Hall to educate attendees about the winemaking process from harvest through bottling.
— Kelly Piccioni, green industry extension educator, will support the Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Association’s exhibit in the Main Hall, connecting visitors with Pennsylvania growers and industry resources.
— Maria Gorgo-Simcox, mushroom program team leader for Penn State Extension, serves as committee chair for the Mushroom Farmers of Pennsylvania exhibit in the Main Hall food court area, showcasing Pennsylvania’s leadership as the nation’s top mushroom producer. Visitors can explore displays illustrating the mushroom growing process, see different varieties and learn why mushrooms are Pennsylvania’s No. 1 cash crop.
— Robyn Underwood, apiculture extension educator, volunteers with the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association at its Learning Center, Market Place and Honey Waffle and Ice Cream Stand locations. The Pennsylvania Farm Show is the association’s primary source of fundraising for the Pennsylvania Honey Queen Program.
— At its booth in the Main Hall, the forestry and wildlife extension team will address woodlot management questions and help visitors understand forest ecosystem benefits, supporting better forest stewardship.
— The Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training will exhibit at the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission booth in the Giant Expo Hall, offering the Ag Conservation Story Journey. This interactive experience guides visitors through Pennsylvania’s conservation challenges and solutions with story cards.
— Many Penn State Extension volunteers, including Master Watershed Stewards and Master Gardeners, participate in other displays throughout the complex.
Behind-the-scenes contributions
Penn State’s presence extends far beyond the visible exhibits. Throughout the complex, many Farm Show events and activities depend on behind-the-scenes contributions from College of Agricultural Sciences personnel. This year, more than 100 faculty members, county-based extension educators and staff from the college lead and participate on Farm Show committees and coordinate competitive exhibits and shows ranging from dairy cattle and poultry to apiary products and mushrooms.
The college’s role at the Farm Show is part of Penn State’s land-grant partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture — a more than 125-year collaboration designed to support agriculture; protect, restore and manage natural resources; and drive economic development and community resilience for all citizens of the commonwealth.
“When you see the crowds at Farm Show, you’re seeing the shared mission of the Department of Agriculture and Penn State come to life,” said Troy Ott, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences. “These face-to-face interactions remind us why we do this work: to serve Pennsylvania agriculture and connect with the families and communities that make our state strong.”
Ott noted that the Farm Show highlights the importance of agriculture as an economic engine for Pennsylvania.
“It reminds every attendee of the critical role our farmers and agribusinesses play in supporting healthy, prosperous communities across the commonwealth,” he said.
Sponsored by the state Department of Agriculture, the Farm Show is the largest indoor agricultural event in America, with 24 acres under roof, spread throughout 11 buildings and three arenas. Farm Show officials expect more than 500,000 spectators, some 6,000 animals, more than 10,000 competitive exhibits and about 250 commercial exhibitors at the eight-day event.
The show is held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center, at the corner of Cameron and Maclay streets in Harrisburg, just off exit 67 of Interstate 81.
The show runs Jan. 10-17. Hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, except Sunday, Jan. 11, when it runs 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 17, when it opens at 8 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m.
Admission is free, and parking is $15. For more information, visit the Farm Show website.