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Our Opinion: A great taste of Pennsylvania

Better-than-average January weather conditions greeted the 103rd annual Pennsylvania Farm Show this week in Harrisburg. It provided a great opportunity for farmers and non-farmers to attend what’s billed as the nation’s largest indoor agricultural exposition.

The farming extravaganza, an eight-day event that runs through Saturday, is held each year at the state Farm Show Complex.

The complex provides 24 acres of exhibition space under one roof.

People who look forward to attending county fairs each summer, to see the animals and various other exhibits that make those events so interesting and enjoyable, are rewarded with much of the same and much more if they make the trip to the commonwealth’s capital city area.

But the farm show is not just about farming in general. Over the years, people have come home with show honors that they can cherish for the rest of their lives. Young people speak about meeting new people, about the show teaching many life lessons, about the opportunity to make new friends, as well as build responsibility and enhance leadership skills. This year’s show theme, “Inspiring Pennsylvania’s Story,” reflects those benefits.

Among the many show activities tied to that theme is a daily story time for children, opportunities for attendees to engage and tell their own stories, and witnessing or participating in interviews with Pennsylvania residents working in agriculture.

There is much about this state’s vibrant farming industry that can be imparted to others, and this event is a wonderful venue for doing that.

This year, exhibits will be seen by more than half-a-million people from the Keystone State and beyond who will venture to the big event to enjoy and appreciate the 12,000 competitive exhibits that will be showcased there, including 5,200 animal competitions.

The accuracy of Pennsylvania’s claims about having a rich agricultural heritage never should be questioned.

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