[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 11, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H159-H160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         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, over the weekend, the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania kicked off one of my favorite events: the 
Pennsylvania Farm Show.
  For more than a century, 170 years, farmers have gathered each 
January at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. This 
week-long event is the largest indoor agricultural exposition in the 
Nation, showcasing more than 6,000 animals, nearly 12,000 exhibits, and 
more than half a million visitors.
  Each year, I host a listening session at the farm show, and we cover 
a range of topics during the public forum, from raising awareness about 
agriculture education to hearing very real concerns from our farmers, 
ranchers, producers, processors, and many more key rural stakeholders. 
This year, the listening session will take place on Friday, January 13.
  The Pennsylvania Farm Show brings together so many different 
agriculture advocates from all different corners of the industry. It is 
an event like no other. I am very proud that this takes place in the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
  The Pennsylvania Farm Show provides an atmosphere for everyone to 
walk through, observe, and educate

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themselves about different areas of agriculture, the Commonwealth's 
largest industry, which brings nearly $6.9 billion annually in 
agricultural cash receipts. Almost half a million jobs are tied to the 
industry, which positively impacts all Pennsylvanians.
  Undoubtedly, one of the most popular attractions of the Pennsylvania 
Farm Show is the food court. Located in the Expo Hall and Main Hall of 
the complex, the food court offers visitors a variety of Pennsylvania 
products, which generates income to support the nonprofit Pennsylvania 
Agricultural Commodity Organizations.
  Mr. Speaker, more than a century ago, the first Pennsylvania Farm 
Show was a 3-day exhibit. Today, the event is a week-long celebration 
of how the agriculture industry touches our lives every day. Proudly, 
this event draws visitors from across the country to highlight 
everything our State has to offer when it comes to agriculture.
  I have been hosting this listening session as a Representative of 
Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District for 13 years. Like every 
year, I am looking forward to hearing directly from the backbone of our 
Nation, the hardworking men and women of American agriculture.
  The Pennsylvania Farm Show goes through this Saturday, January 14. 
Like I said, we look forward to 3 o'clock in the banquet hall to be 
hosting this year's listening session on Friday, January 13. I 
certainly invite and encourage my colleagues and actually anyone that 
would like to join us for this event.
  It is 24 acres under roof, almost a million square feet. It 
represents not just Pennsylvania's number one industry, but agriculture 
is the industry that touches the lives of American families more times 
a day than any other.

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