Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

A sculpture made from nearly 1,000 pounds of butter was unveiled today at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, paying tribute to Pennsylvania's diverse agriculture industry. The sculpture, sponsored by Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program, features PA Preferred, the official brand of agriculture products grown or made in Pennsylvania. Pictured, Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary George Greig (right) and Dairy Farmer Harold Shaulis, of Somerset County (left) listen as Jim Victor of Conshohocken, Montgomerty County, talks about his sculpture. Photo provided by PA Internet News Service

Harrisburg - Agriculture Secretary George Greig celebrated more than 450 combined years of family farming across the commonwealth on Wednesday, Jan. 11, at the 2012 Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg. Greig honored the four farms families by presenting them with certificates designating each farm as a Pennsylvania Century Farm. "The Farm Show is a great place to honor Pennsylvania's long-standing farm families," said Greig. "This is where farm meets city and where people from all walks of life can appreciate what these families have done to maintain their farms for a century and keep Pennsylvania growing." The four farms include: The Tim and Sandra Brown Farm, the Marguerite Maxwell and James Maxwell Farm, the Linda (Lang) Mathias and Kevin Mathias Farm and the Prange Family Farm. The 101-acre Brown farm was established on April 1, 1893 and purchased for $14.85 per acre. A blacksmith and sawmill business was also on the Ebensburg, Cambria County farm and today...

Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania Farm Show Scholarship Foundation presented more than two dozen students -- including a Potter County resident -- with $3,500 scholarships on Tuesday, Jan. 10, at the 2012 Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg. Kristen Hayman of Genesee was one of 26 students who received a scholarship. Agriculture Secretary George Greig presented the scholarship awards, recognizing the integral contributions youth make in keeping Pennsylvania growing. “Each year, the Pennsylvania Farm Show celebrates the best of agriculture – and you are the best,” said Greig. “I thank the scholarship foundation, its members, contributors and buyers for their hard work. You are making a difference in the lives of these students.” The foundation has awarded $977,250 to 370 junior Farm Show exhibitors since the program began in 1993. In addition, Delaware Valley College provides matching grants to its recipients, and Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences offers $2,000 to its full-time...

Lt. Governor Jim Cawley (right) admires the 2012 PA Farm Show butter sculpture while Secretary of Agriculture George Greig (left) and butter sculpture artist Jim Victor (center) enjoy the moment. Provided by Commonwealth Media Services The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture today announced that the state Emerald Ash Borer quarantine restricting the in-state movement of ash materials and all hardwood firewood will be lifted April 15. However, a federal quarantine remains in effect. The Emerald Ash Borer is a highly invasive, wood-boring beetle that kills ash trees and poses a threat to the state’s $25 billion hardwoods industry. Acting Agriculture Secretary George Greig says because the Emerald Ash Borer has moved rapidly across the state, the in-state quarantine restrictions no longer serve a productive purpose. Since 2007, when the Emerald Ash Borer was first observed in Butler County, the pest has been found in 17 additional counties, including Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Centre, Clarion, Cumberland, Fulton, Indiana, Juniata, Lawrence, Mercer, Mifflin, Somerset, Union, Washington and Westmoreland. For more information, go here PDF