Pennsylvania Farm Show gives glimpse of farming’s importance
I had the opportunity to go to the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg. It was a wonderful day and was truly an incredible glimpse of just how important the farming industry is to us all.
It is complex and what’s more, it is incredible how dedicated each and every farming family is. I say farming family because from what I could see, more often than not, the entire family of each farmer is a vital part of their success.
I for one will admit that I never really stop to appreciate just how it is that I have food on the table each and every day. I go to the grocery store, select my food and take it home to enjoy. But … how did it get there? Spending the day at the Farm Show really opened my eyes!
It was so interesting to see the ins and outs of every specialty — from chicken farmers to dairy farmers, to farmers of every crop imaginable … from beekeepers to meat processors … the list just goes on and on.
Wearing a wool sweater or socks? Chances are there is a sheep farm or alpaca farm, filled with dedicated farm hands to thank.
And hauling the heavy equipment or the crops that have been harvested sometimes involves large and impressive draft horses, whose huge statures mask the wonderful and sweet personalities that allow masses of perfect strangers to approach and pet them.
There are so many people involved in their raising and training — every nuance of their care was carefully demonstrated by their dedicated staff, who obviously took great pride and had dedication to their craft.
In the Calving Corner, we, the lay people, were able to see the actual labor and delivery of calves, making their way into this incredible world. In an arena-type area, created especially for this very reason, patient patrons could sit and wait for the pregnant cows to deliver.
Veterinarians were on hand to help and to assure that these newest members of the herds would make their appearance without complications. Experts explained every part of this process. It was incredible to see just how many people were willing to wait patiently in makeshift bleachers, for this event to transpire. I was indeed one of those people.
I think what impressed me the most of my day immersed in PA agriculture was the youth. For some reason, seeing these kids caring for animals with compassion and love gave me hope for tomorrow.
It was wonderful to see
the youth so willing to carry on the work of their parents — one day, it is likely that they will inherit the farms on which they work and live. There is no doubt that they will be every bit as skillful, if not more, than their parents before them.
And perhaps one of the best parts of seeing these amazing kids was that they were not grasping a cellphone. They were not posting to social media. They were focused on their tasks.
I believe I can best sum up my visit with this picture — a girl curled up with her young cow, napping contentedly together. There is obvious love here, and an obvious comfort between the species. She cares about this cow, it is not just a possession.
Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
And judging by this young lady, our nation is indeed heading in the right direction. In a world filled with angst, this young lady can give us all hope.