LENHARTSVILLE, PA — Pennsylvania will place generational farm leadership and agricultural workforce development at the center of its 2027 Farm Show, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced Wednesday, October 7, as the state seeks to sustain an industry that supports 600,000 jobs and contributes $132.5 billion annually to its economy.
Redding introduced the theme, “Leading A Legacy,” at Winterside Farm in Berks County, a family-operated sheep farm whose owners have participated in the Pennsylvania Farm Show for nearly four decades.
The 2027 Farm Show will run January 9 through January 16 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. The eight-day event draws approximately 500,000 visitors annually and serves as a major showcase for the state’s agricultural producers, businesses and workforce.
The theme emphasizes the transfer of agricultural knowledge, land stewardship and business experience between generations as Pennsylvania works to maintain its farming economy.
“From leading the nation in preserved farms to launching the nation’s first Agricultural Innovation program and state-level Farm Bill, leadership is about what we pass on to the next generation,” Redding explained.
Pennsylvania has more than 48,800 farms, according to the Department of Agriculture. The state has permanently preserved 671,082 acres across 6,781 farms in 58 counties, reflecting its long-term investment in maintaining agricultural land.
The Shapiro administration has also directed $30 million toward its Agricultural Innovation Grant Program, which supports technology adoption, operational efficiency and workforce development.
Additional state initiatives include $13.8 million annually through the Pennsylvania Farm Bill for agricultural programs and $4.1 million annually for agricultural Centers of Excellence serving the plant, beef, poultry, livestock and dairy industries.
The administration has also cited Chobani’s planned $1.2 billion Pennsylvania dairy manufacturing facility as a significant investment in the state’s agricultural economy. The project is expected to create 900 jobs and increase demand for Pennsylvania milk by 30%, according to state projections.
Those investments form part of Pennsylvania’s broader economic development strategy, which identifies agriculture as a priority industry for employment, production and long-term growth.
The Bowman family’s Winterside Farm was selected as the setting for the theme announcement because of its multigenerational involvement in agricultural production, education and livestock competitions.
Roger and Nancy Bowman, both retired educators, have raised sheep on their Berks County property for 53 years. Their family has competed at the Pennsylvania Farm Show for 38 years, exhibiting wool and Corriedale sheep.
Their children, Mike Bowman and Stephanie McGargle, and seven grandchildren have participated in livestock competitions and agricultural education activities.
Mike Bowman established a landscaping business using money earned from prizewinning lambs, while McGargle works as a poultry scientist at Penn State University.
Family members also volunteer with agricultural fairs, livestock exhibitions and 4-H programs, contributing to youth education and agricultural workforce development.
“What began as a small sheep farm in 1973 has grown into something far greater than we ever imagined — a legacy built on raising livestock, developing young leaders, and educating others about agriculture,” Roger Bowman reflected.
Winterside Farm recorded 31 top-three finishes from 50 entries during the past three Pennsylvania Farm Shows, including eight first-place finishes and two special honors.
At the 2026 event, the farm earned awards including Best Fleece, Reserve Champion Ewe and first place in the Ewe Yearling Pair competition.
The family’s involvement has also extended into higher education. Granddaughter Evangeline “Eve” McGargle of Huntingdon County received a Pennsylvania Farm Show Foundation Scholarship in 2026 to support her studies at Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.
McGargle emphasized that the family’s participation in livestock exhibitions has focused on public education alongside competition.
“Although we certainly see the value of pursuing excellence in the show ring, our family has always maintained the philosophy that our animals are displayed first and foremost as an educational tool for attendees,” she explained.
The 2027 Farm Show will feature agricultural competitions, livestock exhibitions, educational programming and demonstrations involving Pennsylvania food producers.
Scheduled attractions include the traditional 1,000-pound butter sculpture, the Farm Show Food Court and cooking demonstrations at the PA Preferred Culinary Connection stage.
The event will also offer agricultural education activities throughout the Farm Show Complex, which provides more than one million square feet of exhibition and programming space.
State Sen. Judy Schwank described the theme as a reflection of family traditions that sustain Pennsylvania’s agricultural industry.
“Leading A Legacy is a good theme because it speaks to Pennsylvania’s long agricultural heritage and the generations of farmers and traditions that shaped it,” Schwank noted.
Additional information about the 2027 Pennsylvania Farm Show is available at https://farmshow.pa.gov/.
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