[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 14, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H723]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      PENNSYLVANIA FARM SHOW RECAP

  (Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania was recognized to address the House for 
5 minutes.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight 
the Pennsylvania Farm Show which kicked off this past weekend.
  For 110 years, farmers have met each January at the Farm Show in 
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The event is the largest indoor agricultural 
exposition in the country, featuring nearly 5,000 animals, more than 
250 commercial exhibits, and welcomes more than 500,000 visitors each 
year.
  The Farm Show is a great event for all ages and features many 
educational booths, helping children learn about the ag industry. One 
of the most popular attractions at the Pennsylvania Farm Show is the 
food court. Here, visitors can enjoy various food that features 
commodities grown in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
  This year's Farm Show theme, ``Growing a Nation,'' is particularly 
fitting as we celebrate 250 years since our Founding Fathers signed the 
Declaration of Independence.
  For generations, American farmers have not only fed this country, 
they have helped to feed the world, and they have done so by 
continuously adapting and embracing new tools, technologies, and 
practices.
  The success of U.S. agriculture has been built through the ingenuity, 
hard work, and the strategic application of science and technology.
  I was proud to help open the 110th Farm Show on Saturday. It is 
always an honor to meet farmers from across the Commonwealth and learn 
about how they continue to ensure agriculture remains Pennsylvania's 
number one industry. It was particularly encouraging to see many young 
and aspiring farmers, making it clear that the next generation is ready 
to take charge and lead the industry.
  I hosted my annual listening session, where I was able to take 
questions directly from producers and consumers. The crowd also 
included county commissioners, Farm Bureau leaders, State senators, 
representatives from Penn State, Delaware Valley, as well as lots of 4-
H'ers, dairy princesses, and FFA members.
  As the House Committee on Agriculture prepares to craft the farm bill 
2.0, it is crucial to hear directly from the men and women who feed 
their communities and this Nation.
  I was glad to be joined by my fellow Pennsylvania Congressmen, Ron 
Bresnahan and Dan Meuser. I was also proud to have Russell Redding, 
Pennsylvania's Secretary of Agriculture, and Dr. Troy Ott, dean of Penn 
State's College of Agricultural Science, on the panel.

  This year, we celebrated passage of my bill, the Whole Milk for 
Healthy Kids Act, which will be soon signed into law and brings back 
the option of whole milk and 2 percent milk, including flavored, to our 
schools' meal programs. Dairy farmers from across the Commonwealth 
championed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, and I thank them for 
their support for this commonsense bill.
  Mr. Speaker, the Pennsylvania Farm Show has grown exponentially since 
it began over 100 years ago, a direct reflection of how our country's 
ag industry has grown. It was an honor to attend the Farm Show this 
year, and I thank all of those who worked tirelessly to make this 
incredible event possible.

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