Pennsylvania Farm Show draws nearly 6,000 animals and 10,000 competitive exhibits — everything from Alpacas and Angus to wines, wools and wreaths. It’s all indoors and opens to the public Jan. 6-12 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and finishes up Jan. 13 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s open only for livestock judging on Jan. 5.

Since livestock judging is the biggest farm family draw and there are a number of changes, check the accompanying schedule. With so many breeds and entries, open beef cattle judging is split into two days.

What’s new
Here’s the short of a long list:

• Bid on a bunny. Rabbits debut in the Junior Livestock Sale. Note: Not all 1,500 are for sale.

• Calving corner. Witness new arrivals via the miracle of bovine births.

• Cider competition. Winning entries will be announced and displayed.

• High-tunnel it. A passive solar high tunnel will host small farming round tables, beginning farmer idea swaps and organic ag discussions.

• Organic explosion. Check out the wormy Rodale exhibit and new organic produce entries.

• Tractor restoration. Catch the antique tractor restoration session at 9 a.m. on Jan. 13.

Do you rodeo?
You’ll have five chances to catch live rodeo action. The Pennsylvania High School Rodeo Championship breaks out of the gate twice on Saturday, Jan. 6 in the Farm Show’s New Holland Large Arena.

The First Frontier Circuit Finals Rodeo, tagged as the greatest show on dirt, also takes place in that arena at 7 p.m. on Jan. 11-12, and at 5 p.m. on Jan. 15. Events include barrel racing, bareback bronc riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling and team roping. Thursday night is family and military night. All members of the military get a free ticket at the door by presenting military IDs.

For more details, visit: farmshow.state.pa.us.

Livestock judging, sales events

Friday, Jan. 5 (Judging only, closed to public)
8 a.m. — Open beef cattle (Shorthorn, Maine-Anjou, MaineTainer, all other breeds)
10 a.m. — Swine: all breeds
3 p.m. — Draft horses

Saturday, Jan. 6
8 a.m. — Supreme Champion bred gilt
9 a.m. — Swine sale
4 p.m. — Junior market goat     
9 p.m. — Grand Champion junior market goat

Sunday, Jan. 7
8 a.m. — Junior beef breeding cattle, Junior market lamb
12 p.m. — Draft horse hitch
2 p.m. — Junior market steer
3 p.m. — Grand Champion junior market lamb
5 p.m. — Grand champion junior market steer

Monday, Jan. 8
8 a.m. — Junior market swine, Open beef cattle (Angus, Hereford, Limousin, Simmental)
6 p.m. — Mini horse pull

Tuesday, Jan. 9
8 a.m. — Alpaca show
9 a.m. — Pony pulling
9:30 a.m. — Sale of Champions
10:30 a.m. — Junior livestock sale
1 p.m. — Horse pulling
5 p.m. — Draft horse hitch and drive
6 p.m. — Celebrity draft horse team driving

Thursday, Jan. 11
8 a.m. — Junior dairy goat, Junior breeding sheep
8:30 a.m. — Draft horse pleasure
3:30 p.m. — Junior meat breeding goat

Friday, Jan. 12
8 a.m. — Breeding sheep, Dairy cattle, Open dairy goat
11 a.m. — Draft horse hitch and drive

Saturday, Jan. 13
8 a.m. Meat breed sheep, Boer goats

Keystone Farm Show opens Jan. 9

The 2018 Keystone Farm Show, held at the York Expo Center in York, Pa., runs from Jan. 9-11. It is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, as well as 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday. This farm machinery and agribusiness services event features close to 400 exhibitors — Pennsylvania’s largest winter commercial ag show.