[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 14, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      104TH PENNSYLVANIA FARM SHOW

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, recently, I had the 
pleasure of kicking off the new year by attending the 104th 
Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the largest indoor 
agriculture exposition in the world.
  The Pennsylvania Farm Show dates back to 1917, when the first event 
showcased 44 commercial exhibitors featuring the latest in farm 
machinery and 440 competitive exhibitors. Since then, the Pennsylvania 
Farm Show has become the largest indoor agriculture exhibition in the 
would.
  Dr. Milton Eisenhower, Penn State University president at the time 
and brother of President Dwight Eisenhower, dubbed the Pennsylvania 
Farm Show ``always the greatest show on Earth'' during his 1955 visit.
  Thanks to the sustained dedication by Pennsylvania farmers and farm 
families, tens of thousands of volunteers, and generations of 
agribusiness owners, the Pennsylvania Farm Show continues to be the 
greatest show on Earth. Today, the Pennsylvania Farm Show has grown to 
approximately 6,000 animals, 12,000 exhibits, and 600,000 visitors 
throughout the week.
  Each year, I host a congressional listening session at the farm show 
to hear directly from farmers, industry experts, and the agriculture 
advocates about their priorities as well as their concerns.
  I want to say thank you to Representatives John Joyce, Fred Keller, 
and Dan Meuser, as well as Senator Bob Casey and Pennsylvania 
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, for joining me for the 2020 
congressional listening session at the farm show.
  Even after more than a decade of serving on the House Agriculture 
Committee, there is no experience that replaces the value of meeting 
with our farmers, ranchers, and producers face-to-face.
  With the right policies and good investments, rural America can be 
just as strong as the hardworking men and women who call it home. A 
robust rural America is not possible without a strong rural economy, 
and thanks to the passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada trade 
agreement and a soon-to-be-signed agreement with China, new market 
opportunities for agricultural exports are on the horizon. New markets 
are the key to economic growth and stability for our farm families.
  Stability also means having reliable safety net programs in place 
when times are particularly tough and when the weather is threatening 
our ability to feed ourselves. Over the years, technology has advanced 
and the economy has diversified, and keeping up with the demands of a 
new era is necessary to compete in the modern marketplace.
  With connectivity, broadband, and, specifically, 5G, rural businesses 
will be better equipped to compete. Connectivity also expands 
opportunities for the next generation in rural America, helping signal 
to younger people that rural America is a great place to call home, to 
start a business, and to raise a family.
  After spending several days at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, I am 
increasingly confident that the future of rural America is bright.

                          ____________________