Because most animals are entered into competitions, owners like this young woman often carefully wash, dry and groom them to look their best.

HARRISBURG PA – It happens every year. January arrives, accompanied by the chance to get up close and personal with animals whose relatives grace evening dinner tables all across Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township.

Pennsylvania Farm Show Week begins Saturday (Jan. 8, 2011) at the fully enclosed, 24-acre Farm Show Complex, 2300 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg PA, and yes, that’s where you can meet your meal. Cows, sheep, pigs, ducks, chickens, even frogs; if it’s an edible export of the Commonwealth, you’ll likely see it at the show that runs daily though Jan. 15 (2011) from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Better still, it’s free. There is no admission charge to the show, although tickets are sold for a limited number of special events.

The Farm Show, which began in 1917, is among the largest annual agricultural expositions in the United States. It is held every January in the state capital, and for those interested in farming or who want to learn more about how foods reach the table, it’s highly entertaining.

Parking at the show costs $10 per car in state-operated lots. Buses are available for free at regular intervals (usually every 15 minutes, sometimes less) to ferry those in distant lots to and from the show. Privately operated parking is available in selected locations, usually at higher cost.

The Cameron Street (main) entrance to the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.

If available, possibly the best parking is next to the state Agriculture Department offices at the corner of North Cameron Street (Route 22) and Azalea Drive. It is directly across from the primary, Cameron Street entrance to and lobby of the complex. But beware: North Cameron is a busy, six-lane street. Cross either in the crosswalk with the traffic light (there’s a push button for pedestrians) or walk south for about a half-block and cross using the under-street tunnel.

Look around once you’re inside the Cameron lobby. Directly ahead, against the lobby rear wall, is a long counter. Show information is available there. In addition, lobby hawkers sell a show program complete with maps of the complex (it really is THAT big) and event schedules.

To the left are stairs and escalators rising to a second floor. They’re often very crowded during the show. These lead to the Equine (Horse) and Large Animal arenas, and also to additional enclosed areas of the complex … animal housing, animal grooming, vendor booths, and other exhibits.

To the right in the Cameron lobby is an entrance to two large first-floor exhibit halls. The forward, or front, hall is a food court with booths operated by various Pennsylvania agricultural groups.

The state’s cattlemen offer hamburgers; the dairy association sells thick milkshakes and deep-fried mozzarella cheese cubes; the bee-keepers serve up honey-topped ice cream sundaes, and .. well, you get the idea. During past shows there have been about a dozen different food booths, and all had interesting fare at prices ranging from $3 to $9 per serving. A few provided free samples. Stopping here is a must when hungry.

Biodiesel-powered tractors and motorcycles are among the equipment items of interest often shown at the Farm Show.

The rear hall, behind the food court, is dedicated to the show’s equipment and implement displays. The entire place is filled with farm tractors, trailers, and wheeled equipment of all kinds, manned by the manufacturers or their representatives. Some, but not all, of these mammoth machines are accessible to visitors and make great backdrops for souvenir photos.

In addition, farm service businesses operate booths along the hall’s south wall. During past shows several of these provided educational entertainment with child-friendly activities and games. Winners’ prizes are insignificant (wrapped pieces of candy and trinkets), but the games can be fun and keep family members occupied.

Visit the animal arenas (there are three in all) when events are scheduled. Events range from judging of all animals large and small (if they’re bred or kept on a farm, the show has one or more contests involving them), to a full-fledged rodeo (on the second weekend of the show). The bowl-shaped arenas can hold from several hundred to several thousand people; seating usually is plentiful for all but the most popular events. A pair of binoculars can be helpful. A camera with a good zoom lens is necessary for acceptable picture-taking.

Visit the animal pens between events. All kinds of livestock are housed there. Some can be petted, others not.

Remember the pens substitute for the farms on which the animals regularly live, so they look and smell like barn stalls. Dress down, and anticipate getting something messy, smelly, sticky or unpleasant on shoes and clothes. Expect to see animals doing things animals do, at surprising times. Watch the animal handlers and owners in action; they wash, dry, comb, groom and trim to perfection, and occasionally answer questions while doing so.

Other exhibit areas, and a second food court, are located in a wing of the complex to one side of the animal pens. Exhibitors here during past shows were in farm-related businesses and activities, everything from food preparation and preservation to non-farm leisure activities.

It’s possible to travel the 90-minute, 85-mile, one-way trip from Sanatoga to Harrisburg, visit many of the exhibits and pens, have a satisfying lunch in the food court, take in a competition or two in the arenas, and return home within the space of an 9-hour day. Weekends are the busiest times to visit, but also have the greatest number of scheduled events.

Related:

• 2011 PA Farm Show To Feature Celebrity Chefs
• Women In Agriculture Conference To Be Held Jan. 11
• Young Detectives Invited To Investigate Farm Show
• PA Farm Show Hosts Nationally-Syndicated Ag Tv Show
• 95th PA Farm Show To Offer New Attractions, Favorites

Editor’s Note: When The Post takes a road trip, its readers go too. “Travels With The Post” is a series that reports on places and activities beyond our usual coverage area, but most often within a drive of three hours or less. Earlier versions of this article, written and photographed by Post Managing Editor Joe Zlomek, previously were published by Yahoo Travel and TripAdvisor.com.

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