New youth livestock classes and a Master Showman category are among the highlights of this year’s Pennsylvania Farm Show from Jan. 5-12 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center.

A junior and senior draft horse Decorating in the Pleasure category has been added, along with new yearling ram and Sim-Angus classes.

Qualifiers from each animal class will also compete for the new title of Master Showman in four age groups.

Seven new rabbit varieties have also been added.

Other new highlights
More events to see at the Pennsylvania Farm Show this year include:

• Angorapalooza and the Celebrity Rabbit Hop

• New foods: The Cyclone is a cone of PA Preferred brioche bread made with organic flour and filled with organic chicken, or pasture-raised pork smoked on-site, topped with chow chow. The Layer is a five-cheese mac and cheese layered with corn pudding, chow chow, and your choice of organic pork or chicken, drizzled with house-made gold sauce.

• More cider: The Cider Competition was new in 2018. Now that it’s an established competition, visitors will be able to sample the fruits of Pennsylvania’s finest hard cider producers’ labors. Stop by the Pennsylvania Cider Guild’s booth to sip and sample.

• Farmers market: The new farmers market in the Main Hall will be put on by the Pennsylvania Farmers Market Association.

• Craft beer competition: More than 150 craft beer varieties, from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and everywhere in between, will vie for bragging rights in the first-ever statewide competition. There will be a Best in Class, Best of Show and PA Preferred Legacy Award.

• Artisans Alley: Hand-crafted items will be demonstrated and displayed.

SWINE SHOWCASE: Grand champion junior market swine will be showcased on Jan. 6 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

• Gelding classes will be split into registered and grade classes.

• Organic farming showcase: A new area in the Expo Hall will feature the latest in organic farming with composting, vermiculture and conservation in the spotlight. No-till rollers, crimpers, transplanters and other green planting practices will be demonstrated.

Admission to the farm show is free, parking is $15 in all farm show complex-operated lots. 

Go online for more information.

Daily schedule of agriculture and livestock events
Saturday, Jan. 5
8 a.m.: Draft horse youth showmanship, followed by cart classes; Pennsylvania High School Rodeo Association Championship
9 a.m.: Poultry judging
10 a.m.: Opening Ceremonies with Gov. Tom Wolf and Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding.
11:30 a.m.: Junior market lamb competition
Noon: Beef demonstration by Jonathan Campbell, Penn State
1 p.m.: Wine competition awards ceremony 
4:30 p.m.: Pennsylvania High School Rodeo 
5 p.m.: Pennsylvania High School Rodeo Association Championship 
7 p.m.: Grand champion junior market lamb, followed by showmanship​

Sunday, Jan. 6
8 a.m.:  Junior beef breeding cattle, junior market swine
Noon: Draft horse hitch competition, 6-horse hitch and other team classes
2 p.m.: Junior market steer, followed by showmanship 
4 p.m.: Grand champion junior market swine, followed by showmanship
5 p.m.: Grand champion junior market steer, followed by showmanship
6 p.m.: Horse vaulting demonstration, showmanship clinic
6:30 p.m.: Horse logging demonstration

BEEF MONDAY: Jan. 7 will include beef judging of several different species along with the awarding of supreme champion beef.

​Monday, Jan. 7
8 a.m.: Open beef Angus, Simmental, Hereford and Limousin judging; junior market goat
1 p.m.: Grand champion junior market goat, followed by showmanship
2 p.m.: Pennsylvania State FFA Mid-Winter Convention
4:30 p.m.: Beef supreme champion
5 p.m.: Master showmanship competition
6 p.m.: Mini-horse pull

​Tuesday, Jan. 8
7 a.m.: Scholarship Foundation Breakfast
9 a.m.: Pennsylvania Farm Show Scholarship Foundation Awards
9:30 a.m.: Sale of champions followed by junior livestock sale
Noon: “Using Drone Technology in Agriculture,” Albert Sarvis, Harrisburg University
1:30 p.m.: Horse pulling contest, light and heavyweight
5 p.m.: Draft horse hitch and drive
6 p.m.: Celebrity Draft Horse Feed Scurry Challenge; “Using Drone Technology in Agriculture,” Albert Sarvis, Harrisburg University
7 p.m.: Horse show pitching contest​

Wednesday, Jan. 9
11 a.m.: Produce rule food safety PDA
Noon: Draft horse hitch and drive
3 p.m.: Sheep to shawl contest and auction
4 p.m.: Antique tractor pull
5 p.m.: Draft horse pleasure showmanship, decorating, riding and barrel
5:30 p.m.: Bid calling contest
6:30 p.m.: Sheep to shawl auction

Thursday, Jan. 10
8 a.m.: Junior dairy goat show; junior breeding sheep, junior sheep showmanship
8:30 a.m.: Draft horse pleasure show and stick horse race
10 a.m.: Tractor square dancing
Noon: Junior breeding sheep champion
1 p.m.: Exceptional rodeo
3:30 p.m.: Junior dairy cattle showmanship; junior meat goat showmanship
5 p.m.: Junior meat breeding goat show
6 p.m.: Celebrity Rabbit Hopping Contest; PA Equine Showcase
7 p.m.: PRCA Circuit Finals Rodeo
8 p.m.: Junior meat breeding goat supreme champion

​Friday, Jan. 11
8 a.m.: Open sheep show; dairy cattle show; open dairy goat judging
11:30 a.m.: Supreme champion wool
2:30 p.m.: Celebrity Cow Milking Contest
3:30 p.m.: Milk a Cow
5 p.m.: Angorapalooza
5:30 p.m.: Best doe in show
7 p.m.: PRCA Circuit Finals Rodeo

Saturday, Jan. 12
8 a.m.: Boer goat show; breeding sheep show
11 a.m.: Undeniably Dairy Milkshake Contest, presented by American Dairy Association North East
1 p.m.: Supreme champion meat
2 p.m.: Lumberjack demonstration and competition
5 p.m.: PRCA Circuit Finals Rodeo

Source: Pennsylvania Farm Show