By Amy Duke
For three days in August, Rock Springs once again became a meeting place for the people, ideas and innovations shaping Pennsylvania agriculture. This year’s Ag Progress Days carried added significance, marking 50 years since Penn State’s Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center became the show’s permanent home.
The show began as a traveling agricultural event before settling at Rock Springs in 1976. Since then, it has grown into an annual gathering of farmers, families, researchers, educators and industry representatives, offering a look at where agriculture has been and where it is headed.
Jesse Darlington, show manager, estimated that more than 40,000 people attended this year’s expo, which was held Aug. 11-13 and hosted by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.
He added that the 50-year milestone was evident throughout the show, reflected in the camaraderie among dedicated volunteers, returning exhibitors and longtime attendees, who welcomed first-time visitors into the Ag Progress Days community.
“The crowds were amazing, which is a testament to the value of Ag Progress Days,” he said. “We couldn’t have asked for better engagement and people to celebrate this special occasion.”
As always, agricultural technology was central to the show. Highlights included a new exhibit, the FIRA Robotics Village, co-organized by the college with GOFAR, a global accelerator for agricultural robotics, and the Robotics Factory, a robotics accelerator and program of Innovation Works headquartered in Pittsburgh.
Source : psu.edu