00:07 - Good morning everyone.

00:08 - Good morning.

00:14 - So I need to ring my cowbell.

00:17 - Good morning everyone.

00:18 - Good morning.

00:21 - Thank you for coming this morning.

00:23 - We typically have the ceremony outside, but it is some brisk farm show weather.

00:28 - But, you know, as a dairy farmer,

00:30 - I can say farm show weather is usually also really good cow weather.

00:33 - So I'll go ahead and take it.

00:36 - My name is Lisa Graybill, and I'm a deputy secretary

00:39 - of the Department of Agriculture, and I'm proud to oversee

00:42 - this complex is one of my bureaus, along with animal health and food safety.

00:47 - It's my honor and pleasure to welcome you all to the official opening

00:53 - of the 109th Pennsylvania Farm Show.

01:01 - I can think of

01:02 - no better way to usher in the New Year than opening these doors to the complex,

01:07 - to the public, to showcase our amazing agriculture industry.

01:11 - Today we gather not just to celebrate our agriculture heritage, but to recognize

01:16 - the power and potential that agriculture brings to the heart of Pennsylvania.

01:21 - To our esteemed guests this morning, including government officials,

01:25 - community leaders, sponsors, exhibitors,

01:29 - and above all, the diligent farmers and their families.

01:32 - Thank you for being here this morning.

01:35 - Your presence is a testament to the significance of agriculture.

01:39 - Empowering our state's economy and enriching our daily lives.

01:44 - This year, our theme Powering Pennsylvania

01:47 - highlights the crucial role that agriculture plays

01:51 - in driving our state forward from the energy harnessed by our manure

01:55 - digesters showcase, by the way, behind me and our butter sculpture

02:00 - to the biofuels produced from our crops.

02:03 - Agriculture is at the forefront of innovation and sustainability.

02:07 - Our farmers are not just feeding our community.

02:10 - They are powering our future.

02:13 - As you explore all of the diverse exhibits, savor

02:16 - the flavors of our local food and witness

02:19 - the impressive demonstrations and competitions throughout the week.

02:24 - I encourage you to reflect on the incredible dedication

02:28 - and ingenuity of our agricultural community.

02:31 - Coming from a dairy farming family,

02:35 - I'm able to be here today and serve in my role as Deputy Secretary

02:39 - because some of my family members and our partners

02:43 - and our employees are home right now milking cows.

02:46 - And I want to celebrate the farmers

02:49 - and producers who can't be here, this week or today

02:54 - because they're out in their barn, I would imagine this morning

02:57 - they're probably out falling water troughs.

03:01 - they're in their shops working on equipment to get ready for the spring.

03:04 - They're sorting and packing eggs.

03:06 - They're tending to their flocks and herds and nurturing seedlings

03:10 - in their greenhouses.

03:13 - Let us also take

03:14 - this opportunity to celebrate the researchers and tech

03:17 - and who developed new technologies and innovations.

03:21 - Our lab technicians testing for diseases,

03:24 - our veterinarians and nutritionists who care for and feed our animals,

03:29 - and everyone in between who contributes to this vibrant industry.

03:33 - The Pennsylvania Farm Show is a platform for us to showcase

03:37 - the power of agriculture.

03:39 - It is an opportunity for us to learn, connect,

03:43 - and to be inspired by the boundless energy

03:45 - and creativity that fuels our agricultural sector.

03:49 - Together, we can continue to build a prosperous

03:53 - and sustainable agricultural future for Pennsylvania.

03:57 - I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone

04:00 - who has worked tirelessly to make this event a success.

04:04 - Our amazing Farm Show staff led by Sharon Meyers and her team,

04:10 - our industry and educational partners.

04:13 - Our police and security teams and countless volunteers.

04:17 - Your hard work and commitment are truly appreciated

04:20 - to put on this show and to our visitors.

04:24 - We hope you enjoy this year's Farm Show, leading with a deeper understanding

04:28 - and appreciation of how agriculture powers our great Commonwealth.

04:33 - Once again, welcome to the 109th Pennsylvania Farm Show.

04:38 - Let us celebrate the power of agriculture and the bright future

04:42 - it promises for all of us.

04:44 - Thank you.

04:52 - And now,

04:53 - the service members from the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

04:57 - Color guard 328, the Brigade Support Battalion

05:02 - will honor us with the presentation of colors.

05:40 - Each year,

05:41 - the Department of Agriculture holds a contest.

05:44 - Oh. Say, can you sing to select our national anthem singers for the week.

05:49 - 20 contestants were chosen out of 40 entries.

05:53 - And we have one with us this morning.

05:56 - Please welcome Alona Busey, Lebanon County.

06:07 - Oh, can you see

06:12 - by the dawn's early light.

06:17 - What so proud.

06:19 - Loudly we hailed

06:23 - at the twilight's last gleaming.

06:28 - Whose broad stripes and bright stars.

06:33 - Through the perilous fight.

06:39 - O'er the ramparts we watched.

06:44 - Were so gallantly streaming.

06:50 - And the rocket's

06:52 - red glare, the bombs

06:56 - bursting in air.

07:00 - Gave proof through the night

07:05 - that our flag was still there.

07:10 - O say, does that star spangled

07:16 - banner yet wave for the land of the free

07:31 - and the home of the brave?

07:49 - Well, I think we know why

07:50 - Altoona was selected as one of our singers.

07:54 - The brigade will now retire the colors.

08:13 - Thank you.

08:14 - Next we have morning reflections from the Pennsylvania State Grange.

08:18 - Outstanding young patron.

08:20 - Autumn.

08:21 - Tarkowski.

08:22 - Autumn.

08:29 - Good morning.

08:29 - As we celebrate a new year in progress, we are also reflecting

08:33 - on how the agricultural industry powers Pennsylvania.

08:36 - The Pennsylvania Farm Show is a long standing tradition

08:39 - that brings together the best of Pennsylvania agriculture,

08:42 - highlighting the Bountiful harvest of the past year

08:44 - as well as the forward strides continuing to be made in agriculture.

08:48 - We are thankful for the Pennsylvania Farm Show, its exhibitors and vendors,

08:52 - as well as the farmers who work tirelessly to ensure our delicious food

08:57 - reaches our tables.

08:58 - Year after year, we are grateful for the traditions

09:01 - of Pennsylvania agriculture and the new era it brings.

09:04 - Together, we are powering Pennsylvania.

09:07 - Thank you.

09:13 - Thank you, Adam, and thank

09:14 - you for representing the Grange.

09:17 - I would like now to welcome our hardworking representative

09:20 - of not just the Farm Show, but our 109 county fairs.

09:25 - Erica Teagarden.

09:32 - Good morning everyone.

09:33 - My name is Erica Teagarden, and I am the 2024 Pennsylvania State Fair Queen.

09:39 - This year's theme of Powering Pennsylvania can mean so many things.

09:43 - For obvious reasons, I think of how our farmers power

09:46 - Pennsylvania, with the hard work that they put in day

09:50 - and night to provide food and fiber to our commonwealth.

09:54 - But I also think of each and every person here at the Farm Show

09:58 - and what they do to help power Pennsylvania.

10:01 - I think of exhibitors and their families and the time

10:04 - and effort that they put into the projects they present here.

10:08 - Whether that be a market, livestock, animal, dairy, cattle,

10:11 - or even a baked good produce or craft item in the main hall.

10:17 - I think of the vendors in the time that they put in

10:20 - just to be here for the week, the time that they take out of their busy

10:23 - schedule schedules to bring their new and exciting products to us.

10:28 - I think of the volunteers of so many different

10:31 - organizations who take time out of their lives

10:34 - to be here, to work, and to educate the public,

10:38 - and I even think of the visitors and the support

10:41 - they give to the farm show, the awareness they raise,

10:44 - and how their willingness to attend the show

10:47 - and learn more about agriculture helps to support the industry as a whole.

10:51 - Without each of these pieces, we could not have this event year

10:55 - after year, and we could not power Pennsylvania.

10:59 - While you're visiting the Farm Show this week, I encourage you

11:01 - to take a moment to appreciate each of those individual pieces that go into

11:06 - creating this wonderful occasion for us all to come together each year.

11:10 - Thank you.

11:17 - In keeping with our theme Powering Pennsylvania,

11:21 - our next guest this morning is Steve Brame,

11:24 - president and CEO of Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association.

11:28 - Steve.

11:33 - Thank you, Lisa, I appreciate that.

11:35 - I have to tell you,

11:35 - I get the chance to talk in front of groups a lot around Pennsylvania,

11:39 - but I've never been surrounded by so much royalty as I am here today.

11:43 - That's quite a lot of pressure.

11:47 - thank you all for being here.

11:48 - Thanks for the opportunity to be here to celebrate.

11:51 - Not just our agriculture communities, but our rural communities as well.

11:55 - You know, rural electric cooperatives and the ag

11:58 - community share a common history.

12:01 - In fact, the ag community is the very reason why

12:04 - electric cooperatives exist today.

12:07 - Our ag community created electric cooperatives, which brought life

12:11 - changing electric power to our rural countryside, illuminating

12:15 - the jobs that our farm communities and farm families do.

12:20 - Co-ops and the AG in the community together, our economic drivers

12:24 - in our rural communities, co-ops and the ag communities face

12:28 - a shared set of challenges.

12:30 - And they meet those challenges with collaboration,

12:33 - helping to promote sustainability in our rural communities,

12:37 - our local economies, and advocating for our rural areas.

12:42 - Most recently, Pennsylvania Electric Cooperatives joined with our friends

12:45 - at PDA at USDA to continue a long conversation and a long partnership

12:52 - on how to better power our farm communities,

12:56 - using government investment

12:58 - to make sure we provide safe, reliable, and affordable power.

13:01 - And just as electric cooperatives were born out of

13:05 - our agricultural roots in the Commonwealth,

13:08 - we continue to partner for the benefit of our rural communities.

13:11 - Co-ops have over 1200 interconnected renewable energy sites

13:16 - on our electric system.

13:18 - This is consumer members

13:19 - of our cooperatives providing power to our electric grid, to their neighbors,

13:23 - to help provide low cost power in rural areas.

13:27 - So in each of our own ways, we are powering Pennsylvania

13:31 - by producing food and fiber and other essential goods.

13:34 - Agriculture is the key driver of our rural economic stability.

13:39 - Cooperatives help power our local economies by providing

13:43 - affordable, reliable electricity to rural businesses,

13:47 - to schools, to homes, and yes, to our farms.

13:51 - So on behalf of Pennsylvania's 13 rural electric cooperatives,

13:55 - I want to wish each of you in our and all of our agriculture friends

13:59 - a wonderful farm show week and a Bountiful New Year,

14:04 - and also encourage all of our co-op consumer members who may come through

14:08 - the Farm Show this week and all of you in rural Pennsylvania

14:12 - to contact your local electric distribution cooperative

14:15 - to talk to them about ways to continue our partnership

14:19 - in providing low cost, reliable, affordable power for the backbone

14:24 - of our economy in Pennsylvania, the agriculture industry.

14:28 - Thank you and enjoy the week.

14:34 - Thank you Steve.

14:36 - You know, the ag industry

14:38 - doesn't just represent Pennsylvania's vibrant rural communities.

14:42 - Agriculture is all around us, and it includes

14:44 - our 100 cities that represent our urban ag sector.

14:49 - I'd like to welcome Doctor Tiffany turn team from WB Sol

14:52 - in Philadelphia.

14:58 - Good morning everyone and welcome to the PA Farm Show.

15:01 - And also thank you for the invitation to speak this year.

15:05 - When I heard of the farm shows theme of power in Pennsylvania,

15:10 - it came at such a great time in PA as we approached the football playoff season

15:15 - with having Penn State, the Pittsburgh Steelers,

15:18 - as well as the Philadelphia Eagles heading into these playoffs.

15:23 - It's a really good time this season this year.

15:25 - Go, birds.

15:26 - So as these teams have shown that Pennsylvania power

15:31 - on the football gridiron, our cities have also

15:35 - been generating explosive power within the agricultural sector.

15:39 - Agriculture in our major cities has played a major role in the progression

15:43 - of Pennsylvania agriculture from the movement of community gardens

15:47 - that connect those across generations, teaching various methods

15:51 - of supporting the agriculture, supporting community through farming

15:55 - to generating the next group

15:56 - of agriculture leaders as they advocate for sustainable agriculture.

16:00 - To provide greater opportunities for food access to is doing

16:05 - and is pushing a great force across the where the world globe.

16:10 - With this work and using the words from one of our local farmers

16:14 - from Farmer John, we put the culture in agriculture.

16:18 - These connections help powers of Pennsylvania agriculture as a whole,

16:22 - even though even through agriculture, education, the powerful

16:26 - young minds that promote the awareness of innovative applications of agriculture

16:31 - within Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh,

16:34 - the progression of ag education

16:37 - through community mentorship, stewardship

16:40 - and leadership by the means of youth, through our youth organizations and FFA.

16:44 - And managing your manners have been phenomenal.

16:47 - So in closing, while looking ahead in 2025, Pennsylvania

16:51 - AG will continue to be powered by the four corners of the Commonwealth

16:56 - through the rural, suburban, urban and beyond.

16:59 - Par will continue to be the forefront in powering advancements in agriculture

17:03 - throughout the country.

17:05 - Thank you again for this opportunity. Thank you.

17:13 - Thank you.

17:15 - Probably one of The Farm Show's most

17:17 - steadfast supporters serves as the U.S.

17:20 - representative for Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district,

17:24 - and who serves as chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.

17:27 - Please welcome Congressman Glenn G.T.

17:30 - Thompson.

17:36 - Well, good morning.

17:37 - Farm show.

17:39 - You know, a lot of people mark the beginning of the year with New Year's.

17:43 - And New Year's is kind of nice and everything, but to me,

17:46 - the New Year's is not official until we do this ceremony and open up

17:50 - the Pennsylvania Farm Show and the 109th Pennsylvania Farm Show.

17:56 - This is a show that, showcases Pennsylvania, really, America's number one

18:00 - industry, the industry that provides us most of the things that are essential

18:04 - in our lives food and fiber building materials, energy resources.

18:08 - And what an exciting time. whether you're here to.

18:10 - And I encourage you to take it all in and take multiple days.

18:14 - this warm show, I come to the conclusion last so long

18:17 - because there's so much to see.

18:18 - You can't see it all in just a couple days.

18:21 - whether you're visiting all the different commodity groups and learning about how

18:25 - these hardworking farm families, families provide for, for Pennsylvanians,

18:30 - and quite frankly, for for families around the country,

18:34 - or whether you're like me and like the graze, the food court,

18:38 - there's just so much to see and do here at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

18:42 - I'm proud to be here

18:43 - as the first member of Congress from Pennsylvania in 170 years.

18:47 - The chair of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee.

18:54 - And congratulations

18:55 - to our Farm Farm Show team.

18:59 - I love that.

18:59 - I love the theme of power, because that's what that's what agriculture needs to be.

19:05 - You know, we there are a lot of folks who kind of take this industry for granted

19:09 - because when they wake up in the morning, they're going to figure out

19:11 - they've got food on the shelf or in the cabinet or in refrigerator,

19:15 - or they can just run out a short trip to be able to get what they need

19:19 - for their family,

19:19 - or whether it's the clothing, you know, the fiber that they need or the,

19:24 - that, the power's going to be there when they hit the light switch.

19:28 - And, you know, and it's great that they have that confidence,

19:32 - but I'd like them also to, to really realize

19:35 - that's a that's all because of agriculture.

19:38 - It's because of the agriculture industry that we have here.

19:41 - When you look at how powerful,

19:44 - just and we should celebrate and share that message with our neighbors

19:48 - or friends or relatives of just the power that of, of, Pennsylvania agriculture.

19:54 - You know, when it comes to the number of jobs, number one industry

19:57 - in Pennsylvania, the number of jobs, the number of economic activity,

20:01 - quite frankly, the amount of taxes that are paid in

20:04 - to all levels of government from agribusinesses.

20:08 - the the positive impact on the environment, on the climate

20:12 - and quite frankly, food security, because food security is national security.

20:16 - And so I'm just really proud to be here, of this opening once again.

20:21 - wouldn't miss it.

20:22 - I do a shameless plug, and I invite anybody would like to have a further

20:26 - discussion on,

20:27 - either Pennsylvania or, quite frankly, agriculture around the country.

20:31 - we're going to be in the Delaware room at 1:00 for a listening session.

20:34 - I'm going to be joined by my ranking member, Angie Craig, from Minnesota.

20:39 - Great member of Congress.

20:41 - she, and Chellie Pingree from Maine will be with us.

20:44 - Dam user.

20:46 - great fellow Pennsylvania will be there as well.

20:48 - And I invite you to come out and,

20:50 - and share your thoughts, your needs, your questions.

20:53 - And so welcome and happy Farm show.

21:02 - Thank you for always for your support.

21:04 - Congressman Thompson.

21:05 - Last year, Governor Shapiro released his economic

21:09 - development strategy, naming agriculture as a key pillar.

21:13 - We couldn't do what we do, though, in agriculture without our key partners,

21:17 - including the Department of Community and Economic Development.

21:21 - Here today is Secretary of Rick Snyder.

21:26 - Thanks for.

21:29 - Thank you so much.

21:30 - Good morning everyone.

21:31 - I am so excited to be here at as we open up the 109th Pennsylvania Farm Show.

21:37 - Thank you Lisa.

21:37 - Thank you, Secretary Redding and everyone at the Pennsylvania Department

21:41 - of Agriculture.

21:42 - This is really like one of the premier events in Pennsylvania every year.

21:46 - Thank you Congressman.

21:47 - The many legislators and other state leaders that are here,

21:50 - I often say governing and economic and community development are team sports.

21:54 - We can't do it without that partnership.

21:57 - You know, as you've heard, Powering

21:58 - Pennsylvania is the theme of this year's Farm Show, which showcases everything

22:03 - Pennsylvania agriculture has to offer both to visitors and Pennsylvanians alike.

22:08 - AG is a huge part of our culture and our history and our way of life,

22:12 - but it's also the foundation of our economy.

22:15 - This industry provides for almost 600,000 jobs in Pennsylvania.

22:20 - That's one in every ten jobs in our state.

22:24 - These are people working to put food on their tables,

22:26 - whether they be farmers or food processors, manufacturers

22:30 - or people researching and developing technologies of the future

22:33 - that are increasing yields and making farms more productive.

22:37 - It's an entire ecosystem, one that contributes more than $130

22:41 - billion annually to our Commonwealth's economy.

22:45 - I'm proud to stand here today with Secretary Redding because,

22:48 - as you just heard from Lisa,

22:49 - agriculture is one of Governor Shapiro's top economic priorities.

22:53 - That's represented in the ten year plan we put forward last year,

22:56 - the first of its kind, I will say, in Pennsylvania in nearly two decades.

23:01 - One of our goals is to identify and focus

23:03 - in specific areas, valuable sectors in our economy.

23:07 - We know we can't be everything to everyone,

23:10 - and it's important that we double down on our strengths

23:12 - in industries where we have real competitive advantage.

23:16 - That's why we're focused on agriculture.

23:19 - We're committed to making policies and directing funding in ways

23:22 - that help our farms, our food manufacturers and retailers.

23:25 - Our hardwood producers, our food researchers, and so many more.

23:29 - And importantly, that means helping people that work in those fields,

23:33 - making sure they have access to skills training

23:36 - they need to further their careers,

23:37 - promoting higher wages and benefits to enrich Pennsylvania families,

23:42 - and ultimately to strengthen our communities.

23:45 - You know, as I wrap up, I just want to say there's

23:47 - really no question Pennsylvania is an agricultural powerhouse.

23:51 - We're a national leader in areas like organics and dairy

23:54 - mushrooms and overall food production,

23:57 - but we

23:58 - also have the opportunity

23:59 - to be at the forefront of developing and implementing new tech

24:03 - like artificial intelligence and automation to help our farmers

24:06 - and workers do their jobs even better.

24:09 - Guided by our strategy with the help of partners like those here today,

24:13 - with leadership in the ag sector like that from Secretary Redding and others.

24:17 - Agriculture is truly powering Pennsylvania.

24:20 - Thank you so much.

24:27 - Thank you.

24:27 - Secretary Snyder.

24:30 - Our final speaker needs little introduction.

24:33 - He has worked tirelessly for the ag industry and has served

24:37 - in the capacity of Pennsylvania's secretary of Agriculture for 25 years.

24:43 - Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to welcome to the podium.

24:46 - Secretary of Agriculture, Russell Redding.

24:53 - And, Lisa, thank you.

24:56 - Hey, good morning, everybody, and happy New Year to you.

24:59 - it is an honor to be here with you.

25:02 - it is not missed on me.

25:03 - When an oversize, pair of scissors is on the podium.

25:07 - what we're actually here to do.

25:09 - but thank you all for being here.

25:10 - Let me take a moment, and acknowledge a couple of really, really important folks

25:15 - who, help me do what I do.

25:19 - they're they're not, on our payroll, but they're the family that allows me

25:24 - to travel and engage and various niner.

25:28 - Right there.

25:29 - Thank you. Night and my love. My wife.

25:31 - Thank you.

25:34 - And our

25:35 - our children, extended families and Elliot and Garrison team.

25:38 - So just a note of thanks as we talk about powering things,

25:42 - the power comes from homes, right?

25:45 - It allows us to do

25:46 - the things that we love to do, allows us to travel and work and think.

25:50 - So to you. Thank you.

25:53 - a lot of you say, oh, say, can you sing right?

25:58 - Thank you for sharing your voice.

25:59 - I mean, the power of a voice in this, farm show complex.

26:03 - Always.

26:04 - And and it's probably the only thing that brings us to a pause.

26:08 - To a stop.

26:09 - is a beautiful voice.

26:10 - So thank you for sharing your talents, with us as well.

26:14 - On behalf

26:15 - of Governor Shapiro, thank you for being here

26:18 - and being part of Farm Show, being part of the industry of agriculture,

26:23 - that we have a chance as a state sponsor show, to come together every year

26:27 - and recognize both the importance of it to celebrate the people in it.

26:32 - and as noted by our speakers, the power of it.

26:35 - It's a really humble moment for me

26:37 - because you realize as you look around, even this room,

26:42 - you, you see the people who are part of that conversation every day

26:47 - that allow us to come in here for eight days and celebrate what it is.

26:50 - But it's only because of the people who are out in all parts

26:54 - of our commonwealth, doing all the really important things

26:57 - that we expect to have a vibrant economy, to have a vibrant food system.

27:01 - Right, to have all of those things that we consider,

27:04 - part of our civil society.

27:07 - That doesn't happen just because you and I like it.

27:10 - It happens because people put their heart, soul,

27:13 - their energy, their work, the minds and youth to that work.

27:17 - So thank you for doing that.

27:19 - As I think about this theme, many things come to mind.

27:24 - I think about where I've been over the last

27:27 - couple of years to be with a 10th generation family,

27:30 - to be in barns that predate the Revolutionary War,

27:35 - to be in the darkest parts, in the deepest parts of our cities.

27:40 - And you find people doing this amazing sort of work

27:44 - in food, of feeding their community.

27:47 - Right.

27:48 - Looking at how do they make that both

27:51 - available to them, but also their community more vibrant?

27:55 - I think about that as part of Powering Pennsylvania.

27:58 - And every time I'm humbled,

28:01 - every time I look at

28:02 - that, there are folks over generations who have brought us here

28:06 - 109 years and beyond,

28:08 - to the folks who have found really creative ways to bring justice to,

28:13 - communities, to food systems that need to be built and protected and enhanced.

28:18 - It inspires.

28:20 - It drives innovation.

28:22 - It captures the imagination.

28:24 - But I also think about the power of Pennsylvania in the partnerships.

28:28 - As I look back and the dean of our College of Agricultural Sciences,

28:32 - do not you think about that land grant mission, just as we have

28:37 - for the first time in 170 years, the chairman of the House AG Committee,

28:41 - I think about a land grant, universities and what was envisioned by President

28:44 - Lincoln and folks in Congress to say, how do we make this America better?

28:51 - Our land grant university

28:52 - allows us to come here and celebrate taking research and innovation

28:56 - and knowledge and transferring that to the people who need it.

28:59 - We're a beneficiary of that.

29:01 - We see that inside of this complex and inside the 109th

29:04 - Pennsylvania Farm Show, we get a chance to really see the grits

29:11 - and the determination in assuring.

29:13 - I'm often asked, what do you like most about this farm show?

29:17 - What I like most about is standing ringside and watching a

29:21 - youth in the four H or FFA, and the very first time being in the ring.

29:26 - And you understand in that moment that that is important to them, of course.

29:30 - And again, the celebration of agriculture.

29:32 - And we're here to be competitive.

29:34 - But you also understand that that is the future, that these are folks

29:37 - who see what we see and they desire what we desire.

29:43 - But we're also here to celebrate the farm and the farm community.

29:47 - They say that every day that we are blessed.

29:50 - We're blessed to be in a nation where

29:53 - 2% of our population feeds us,

29:57 - 2% allow us

30:00 - to sleep well because they serve in our military.

30:03 - The general.

30:03 - Thank you to the National Guard.

30:05 - It is really appropriate that we are here.

30:07 - We celebrate with the introduction to recognize

30:11 - that 2% allow us to eat well

30:14 - and 2% allow us to sleep well.

30:17 - That's 4% of our nation.

30:20 - It takes on the task of both making this life,

30:23 - possible and peaceful.

30:26 - And that's a great reminder to all of us

30:29 - of what we hold and cherish and are thankful for.

30:33 - But those partnerships are also part of what's around me and around us.

30:38 - It doesn't happen without, you know, folks who are for educators.

30:42 - It doesn't happen without FFA advisors.

30:45 - There are folks

30:46 - who work in the Rural Electrics who are volunteer members of boards.

30:50 - Right.

30:50 - I think about all of the folks

30:51 - who serve in our House, in our Senate, in the military, the legislature.

30:56 - That partnership is really, really critical

30:59 - to our youth ambassadors who are here this morning.

31:02 - Thank you.

31:04 - Thank you for what you do in

31:06 - a year of your life to each of those organizations and causes,

31:09 - to our friends at University of Pennsylvania and to that school

31:13 - that give us a call to all of this

31:16 - swirling issue around animal health and disease and welfare.

31:20 - Right.

31:20 - We have it here, a vet school, a land grant,

31:23 - and all of this important partnership that we have.

31:27 - And final to say that the power is also in leadership.

31:32 - So leadership of the governor.

31:33 - I've had the benefit over time of working with many,

31:37 - and I appreciate very much the Secretary Sager.

31:40 - As noted, Governor Shapiro's, sincere and organic

31:44 - interest around agriculture as part of our future.

31:49 - Right.

31:49 - Coupled with it's not a standalone in any way, it's a partnership

31:54 - between the other pillars that are part of our economic strategy.

31:58 - Right.

31:58 - It's about the technology and energy and life sciences and robotics

32:02 - and agriculture.

32:04 - And to me, the cross-cut and the linkages around that

32:07 - is, in every one of those other pieces, you find the components of what makes

32:11 - this industry possible in the power possible.

32:15 - So to the governor, who I have been with on farms, in stood in barns

32:20 - and in boardrooms, I've always appreciated his vision for agriculture.

32:26 - Before he was, sworn in as governor

32:29 - and I was secretary back room of the, Public Officials Day.

32:34 - Wonderful conversation about what the future of agriculture looks like.

32:38 - What should I do?

32:39 - His question to me is, what should I do?

32:41 - There's not a greater gift of a question from a governor to a secretary, right.

32:45 - And you get that moment to talk about what it is that we should do.

32:48 - And out of that came this economic question

32:51 - became the issues around food and nutrition.

32:54 - It's about the importance of permitting the environment.

32:57 - All of those are pieces that we're working on.

33:00 - But he has this great sort of vision for agriculture in the state.

33:04 - And he says often the future of Pennsylvania,

33:08 - runs right through our farms.

33:11 - And I say it to myself occasionally

33:13 - just to remind myself about what the power looks like there.

33:17 - Right.

33:17 - What does that look like across across time?

33:20 - His commitment to ensuring that we have things that are part

33:24 - of the power of agriculture, that we get a Western animal health lab,

33:29 - that we end up with ag innovation funds, that we end up with opportunities

33:33 - that both allow us to celebrate today.

33:37 - But as he often says, it's not just about this moment, it's the next generation.

33:42 - And the one after that.

33:44 - And that's the power of this industry

33:46 - that has allowed us to be here and to celebrate, in this moment,

33:50 - to carry us through times of both turmoil and triumph.

33:55 - We are here to celebrate the 109th Pennsylvania Farm Show.

33:59 - So back to the scissors

34:02 - right there, still staring at me.

34:05 - it is time to, cut this ribbon.

34:07 - But before we do that, just a sincere note of thank you to each of you

34:11 - for being here, being part of this celebration of agriculture,

34:15 - being part of the work that allows and required to do,

34:20 - the 365 days of the year to be here.

34:24 - a sincere note of thanks on behalf of the governor for what you do.

34:27 - We appreciate the partnership.

34:29 - We appreciate the power that you provide to us

34:31 - and the power of this industry of Pennsylvania.

34:34 - So congratulations.

34:35 - Let's cut the ribbon.

34:36 - Thank you.

34:39 - All right.

34:48 - We'll get everyone assembled,

34:49 - and then we'll do a countdown from five when everyone's ready

34:55 - to switch.

34:57 - At the speakers.

34:59 - Yeah, yeah, yeah.

35:02 - Very close.

35:04 - Come on in.

35:06 - Oh, yeah.

35:13 - What do you say we get this farm

35:14 - show officially open in

35:18 - five, four,

35:21 - three, two, one.

35:25 - Hey hey, hey.

35:34 - Did you hear that?

35:39 - Those that are,