The Pennsylvania State Farm Show, the largest indoor agricultural exposition in the United States, traces its roots to the 1851 Pennsylvania State Fair that was initially held in Harrisburg.
Throughout the 19th century, the fair was held in different Pennsylvania towns. By 1899, the fair had fallen out of popular appeal due to the many “sideshow acts” that accompanied it. The public, however, still craved a statewide agricultural exhibition.
The original Farm Show committee of 1916 selected January as the time when farmers would look toward the upcoming year for buying such necessities as seeds, fertilizer, and farming implements.
In January 1917, a new, three-day agricultural show billed the “Pennsylvania Corn, Fruit, Vegetable, Dairy Products and Wool Show” was held in Harrisburg to great success. It has remained here ever since.
By 1921, livestock was incorporated into the annual event. By 1925, attendance had grown to 40,000 and was housed in numerous buildings throughout the city.
Growth of the Farm Show indicated the need for a central location for the event. The state appropriated money to build a suitable facility and construction of the complex occurred throughout the 1930s.
On the show’s 15th anniversary, the new “Main Hall” was unveiled on a 40-acre lot at the corner of Cameron and Maclay streets. By January 1939, the 2.2-acre “Large
Arena” featuring 7,600 seats was completed.
During World War II, the Farm Show was not held and the multi-building complex was used for reconditioning airplane engines. After the war the Farm Show resumed, and the annual event became even more popular.
Renovations and upgrades were made during the 1970s. In 2002, a major renovation, at $86.2 million, vastly expanded the complex. The facility now has 1 million-square-feet of exhibit space under one roof.
The success of the Pennsylvania Farm Show demonstrated that interest in the state’s agriculture heritage thrives and the renovation of the Farm Show Complex ensures that the annual event will continue to delight generations to come.
The 97th annual Farm Show in 2013 runs Jan. 5-12.
