WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — “Powering Pennsylvania” is the theme for the 109th Pennsylvania Farm Show, and Pennsylvania College of Technology will be in attendance, sharing its empowering possibilities.

Set for Jan. 4-11 at the Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg, the largest indoor agricultural event in the country attracts hundreds of vendors and thousands of exhibitors showcasing their skills. The show welcomes farmers, families and food lovers. Admission is free.

Among the daily skills in the spotlight at the Penn College booth (No. 2406 in the Giant Expo Hall) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. will be:

• Saturday, Jan. 4: Laser engraving with manufacturing technology

• Sunday, Jan. 5: Wave and motion demonstrations in physics

• Monday, Jan. 6: Landscape/horticulture Q&A and plant giveaway

• Tuesday, Jan. 7: Surgical technology’s laparoscopic surgical simulator

• Wednesday, Jan. 8: Heavy equipment operator simulation

• Thursday, Jan. 9: Honoring our heroes with the Veterans & Military Resource Center

• Friday, Jan. 10: Sheet metal demonstration with collision repair/restoration

• Saturday, Jan. 11: Hands-on heat loss demonstration with the Clean Energy Center

Penn College’s exhibit space also will be active in the evenings, with activities including button making with various college-related templates, using a 3D pen, navigating a remote-control car through a maze, a wood plank brain teaser, and selfies with the college’s Wildcat mascot. 

The evening offerings run 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, through Friday, Jan. 10, except on Sunday, Jan. 5, when the Farm Show closes at 8 p.m. (The Farm Show closes at 5 p.m. on its final day, Saturday, Jan. 11.)

In addition to Penn College faculty and staff, students will engage Farm Show guests in a variety of ways, including culinary students who will participate on the PA Preferred Culinary Connection Stage.

The students will join Chef Mike S. Dinan, executive chef of the college’s Le Jeune Chef Restaurant, and Chef Mike Ditchfield, faculty retiree and current part-time instructor of culinary arts, on the following days:

• Saturday, Jan. 4 – Beef & Veal Day: At 11 a.m., Dinan and students will prepare Jagerschnitzel.

• Sunday, Jan. 5 – Vegetable Day: At 11 a.m., Ditchfield and students will create Lutenitsa; and at 5 p.m., students will battle each other to create the best dish using surprise Pennsylvania ingredients during the timed School Cooking Challenge.

• Monday, Jan. 6 – Giant Day: At 5 p.m., Dinan and students will present a recipe for pork chili verde.

Penn College alumni who will be featured on the Culinary Connection stage are: Bridget M. Callahan, class of 2019, culinary arts & systems and business management, executive chef at SAVONA in Gulph Mills; Kristina M. Wisneski, class of 2013, culinary arts & systems, chef, Pure Roots Provisions, King of Prussia (and a finalist on Food Network’s “Chopped” cooking show); and Alisha M. (Howell) Summa, class of 2012, baking & pastry arts, owner, Lynn Sandy’s Bakery, Scranton.

As part of Beef & Veal Day on Jan. 4, Callahan will prepare veal Bolognese at 3 p.m., and Wisneski will prepare red wine-braised short ribs with farro brussels sprouts at 4 p.m.

On Jan. 5 for Vegetable Day, Summa will make chocolate chip zucchini loaf at 4 p.m.

Penn College students also will be cooking behind the scenes, working with each demonstrating chef to produce hundreds of sample-size portions of their recipes for Farm Show visitors. Among the chefs they’ll rub elbows with is Food Network chef, cookbook author and restaurateur Jet Tila.

“Penn College is pleased once again to be a part of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, as our graduates and academic programs connect seamlessly with the commonwealth’s workforce needs,” said Anthony J. Pace, associate vice president for enrollment and academic operations. “The Farm Show shines a spotlight on remarkable innovation across a variety of critical industries in which our students typically seek employment after graduation. It’s an ideal venue to expose the college’s program offerings to the next generation of ‘tomorrow makers.’”

While admission to the Farm Show is free, there is a $15 fee for on-site parking. The Farm Show Complex & Expo Center is located at 2300 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg.

Penn College is a national leader in applied technology education. Visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free at 800-367-9222 for more information.