Columbia news, views & reviews decided to capitalize on the “non-farm show” week weather to take a day visit to the 96th Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg on Tuesday. The legend here in central PA is that we always get horrid waist deep snow and cold weather during farm show.

Since the weather was “mild” we went to the Farm Show; here’s what we learned and saw there

We learned that patience, a little money (admission is FREE but it costs $10 to park), a bottle of water and a camera are big assets when you’re dealing with:

• large crowds;
• parking in an off-site lot;
• a lot of walking;
• the vastness of the farm show complex and
• waiting in lines (for the shuttle bus from and to the off-site parking area; to get food (both free samples and tempting paid “fair food” delights); to feed the butterflies; the public bathrooms, etc.). To be truthful, though, the wait time in none of the lines was real long.

Should you decide to go to the farm show which continues through January 14, here are some of the things you may see.

The farm show attracts kids of all ages; if you take your children or grandchildren, there is “free stuff” and learning opportunities.

Waiting in line for the shuttle bus.

Crowds inside the main entrance.

Punxsatawny Phil was there.

And the animals and fowl are in abundance.

To which animal do these belong?

Why those forefeet belong to Samson, the service Alpaca. Samson was brought to the farm show by Darwin Kell of the Bent Pine Farm Alpaca Farm, Carlisle, PA.

This handsome guy is a Boer Goat.

Here’s Buster; he weighs a ton (literally) and stands over 18 hands. [NOTE: A hand is about four inches.]

Took this snapshot of an eagle from a distance away; some of the reason for the blur.

Interesting elaborately crafted quilts.

The prize-winning rabbit is made with mushrooms!

Lots of Lancaster County companies are represented.

This re-enactor was chipping arrowheads.

… and there is BIG farming equipment.

To sell “waterless cookware,” the cooking demonstrator prepared a meal for her audience.