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Slideshow: Although many go to farm show for the milkshakes, it’s a big week for FFA members and livestock exhibitors.

Chris Torres, Editor, American Agriculturist

January 10, 2020

10 Slides

When most non-ag people think of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, two things always come to mind: The bad weather, even though most years it doesn’t snow at all during farm show week, and the milkshakes, which have become legendary.

But for most farmers and rural people, farm show is about the animals. The show is the largest indoor ag exhibition in the country with close to 6,000 animals under one roof.

And for those who like blue jackets — the ones with FFA emblazoned on them — it’s the place to be in winter as the state’s FFA members gather for one of their largest yearly events.

Click the photo slideshow to see some of the things we found around the animal exhibits and at the FFA Midwinter Convention at this year’s farm show.

About the Author(s)

Chris Torres

Editor, American Agriculturist

Chris Torres, editor of American Agriculturist, previously worked at Lancaster Farming, where he started in 2006 as a staff writer and later became regional editor. Torres is a seven-time winner of the Keystone Press Awards, handed out by the Pennsylvania Press Association, and he is a Pennsylvania State University graduate.

Torres says he wants American Agriculturist to be farmers' "go-to product, continuing the legacy and high standard (former American Agriculturist editor) John Vogel has set." Torres succeeds Vogel, who retired after 47 years with Farm Progress and its related publications.

"The news business is a challenging job," Torres says. "It makes you think outside your small box, and you have to formulate what the reader wants to see from the overall product. It's rewarding to see a nice product in the end."

Torres' family is based in Lebanon County, Pa. His wife grew up on a small farm in Berks County, Pa., where they raised corn, soybeans, feeder cattle and more. Torres and his wife are parents to three young boys.

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