When Megan and Andrew Prevoznik, of Lititz, saw Saturday’s weather forecast, they adjusted their trip to the 2024 Pennsylvania Farm Show.
“We’ve got to beat the snow,” Andrew Prevoznik said.
The couple and their two young children arrived shortly after 8 a.m, figuring they could get in a few hours of seeing animals and sipping milkshakes before heading home to play in the snow.
The agricultural extravaganza runs through Jan. 13 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg under the theme “Connecting Our Communities.” The event is free, but parking is $15.
This year, opening day featured a messy forecast with about 8 inches of snow predicted in some parts of central Pa. As they say, it’s not Farm Show week without a major snowstorm.
“Is this quintessential Farm Show or what?” asked Pa. Sen. Judy Schwank, a Democrat from Berks County, who spoke during an opening ceremony that included dignitaries such as Sen. Bob Casey, U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson and Pa. Lt. Gov. Austin Davis.
In the eyes of some like Agricultural Secretary Russell Redding the forecast isn’t dampening the spirits of the Farm Show. The complex was bustling around noon, but not quite the shoulder-to-shoulder levels of past opening days.
Traditionally, Farm Show’s opening day draws some of the biggest crowds with clogged corridors, food court lines and filled parking lots.
“We’re now in a new year and Farm Show is here, so no one should stand around in wonderment that it’s snowing a little bit. I don’t know that it’s going to deter anyone. I think folks want to come and see it,” Redding said.
He noted the energy is back and has slowly been building every year since the pandemic and cancelation of the 2021 show.
“2024 feels like it’s all back together. We’re excited about it. You can feel the energy,” Redding said.
Vendors including Pennsylvania State Showman’s Association, which runs the carousel in the Main Hall, know weather impacts attendance. The organization’s treasurer Donna Kramer said the milder the weather, the bigger the crowds.
“Today’s snow is going to affect today’s attendance. We’ve always said the opening Saturday and Sunday are crazy,” she said.
At the baking competitions, Karen Dobson, who heads Saturday afternoon’s chocolate cake competition, expressed concerns that some entrants might not make it due to the weather.
“I think we are going to be impacted, because people won’t want to come later today. It’s disappointing for them because they want to be here.”
Dobson said some entrants rented hotel rooms equipped with kitchens to bake their angel food cakes for Sunday’s competition because they don’t want to deal with traffic related to the weather.
Some like Andrea Gills, security officer with the Department of Agriculture who was stationed outside handling parking duties, opted to go with the flow.
“Based on the forecast, I’m anticipating some snowy weather, but I’m hoping we don’t get it. We’re prepared. We’ve got our hand warmers,” she said.
She also didn’t think the forecast will put a damper on crowds.
“Saturday, of course, is the biggest day. I am anticipating having a large crowd,” Gills said.
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Source: Berkshire mont