Pennsylvania Farm Show

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, over the weekend, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania kicked off one of my favorite events: the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

For more than a century, 170 years, farmers have gathered each January at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. This week-long event is the largest indoor agricultural exposition in the Nation, showcasing more than 6,000 animals, nearly 12,000 exhibits, and more than half a million visitors.

Each year, I host a listening session at the farm show, and we cover a range of topics during the public forum, from raising awareness about agriculture education to hearing very real concerns from our farmers, ranchers, producers, processors, and many more key rural stakeholders. This year, the listening session will take place on Friday, January 13.

The Pennsylvania Farm Show brings together so many different agriculture advocates from all different corners of the industry. It is an event like no other. I am very proud that this takes place in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Farm Show provides an atmosphere for everyone to walk through, observe, and educate themselves about different areas of agriculture, the Commonwealth's largest industry, which brings nearly $6.9 billion annually in agricultural cash receipts. Almost half a million jobs are tied to the industry, which positively impacts all Pennsylvanians.

Undoubtedly, one of the most popular attractions of the Pennsylvania Farm Show is the food court. Located in the Expo Hall and Main Hall of the complex, the food court offers visitors a variety of Pennsylvania products, which generates income to support the nonprofit Pennsylvania Agricultural Commodity Organizations.

Mr. Speaker, more than a century ago, the first Pennsylvania Farm Show was a 3-day exhibit. Today, the event is a week-long celebration of how the agriculture industry touches our lives every day. Proudly, this event draws visitors from across the country to highlight everything our State has to offer when it comes to agriculture.

I have been hosting this listening session as a Representative of Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District for 13 years. Like every year, I am looking forward to hearing directly from the backbone of our Nation, the hardworking men and women of American agriculture.

The Pennsylvania Farm Show goes through this Saturday, January 14. Like I said, we look forward to 3 o'clock in the banquet hall to be hosting this year's listening session on Friday, January 13. I certainly invite and encourage my colleagues and actually anyone that would like to join us for this event.

It is 24 acres under roof, almost a million square feet. It represents not just Pennsylvania's number one industry, but agriculture is the industry that touches the lives of American families more times a day than any other.

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