HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan 10, 2026, 08:12 (EST)
- Pennsylvania’s Farm Show opened Saturday in Harrisburg, kicking off the state’s America250PA push ahead of the U.S. 250th anniversary
- A 1,000-pound butter sculpture puts Benjamin Franklin and the Founding Fathers at the Declaration signing
- The food court added new items including pickle pizza, chocolate-covered strawberries and Lion’s Mane coffee
Pennsylvania’s annual Farm Show opened in Harrisburg on Saturday with a 1,000-pound butter sculpture that leans hard into the U.S. 250th anniversary theme, pairing the state’s founding-era history with its modern dairy industry.
Organizers are selling it as more than a winter fair. The 110th edition runs Jan. 10 through Jan. 17 and serves as the official kickoff for America250PA, the state commission coordinating events tied to the nation’s 250th birthday. Admission is free and parking is $15 per vehicle, the state agriculture department said.
The timing matters for Pennsylvania’s farm groups, which use the show’s biggest magnet — the food court — to raise money for commodity organizations and youth programs. The Farm Show site said new offerings this year include pickle pizza, chocolate-covered strawberries, a mushroom breakfast burrito and Lion’s Mane coffee — coffee blended with an extract from a mushroom used in some supplements.
The food court also opened a day early on Friday, a tradition for some visitors looking to get in before the show’s main events ramp up. WGAL reported long lines Friday night for staples like potato donuts and noted the preview day only opened the food court, not other areas.
The butter sculpture itself is staged as a 1776 Philadelphia scene, with Franklin and other Founding Fathers at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, plus the Liberty Bell and a nod to Betsy Ross. The sculpture has been part of the Farm Show for decades and has leaned into pop culture in past years, including a version that featured the Flyers’ mascot Gritty, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Redding said the display “takes on a deeper meaning” this year, tying farming to the country’s origins. Dairy farmer Carolyn Eaglehouse said the state’s dairy producers were “building a strong dairy industry” even as the country was being formed, calling it “a legacy” she was proud to be part of.
America250PA also set up a booth inside the food court area, with games and a recording station for visitors to share their own Pennsylvania stories, according to CBS 21. “Farmers were always at the heart of that story,” America250PA executive director Cassandra Coleman said. https://local21news.com/news/local/farm-sh…
But the show’s draw can work against it. WGAL warned Saturday that traffic and parking can get tight at the Farm Show Complex, with some visitors needing to shuttle in from other lots as crowds build.
The Farm Show runs daily through Jan. 17 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg, with livestock shows, competitions and commercial exhibits layered around the food court and its fundraising booths.
