Penn State set to shine at Farm Show

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The many faces of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences will be evident at the 2010 Pennsylvania Farm Show, Jan. 9-16 in Harrisburg.

With the theme, “Water: Our Resource, Our Future,” the college’s exhibit in the Main Exhibits Hall just off the Maclay Street entrance will show how the college’s teaching and extension programs are raising awareness about water quality in the Keystone State.

Green roofs

Green roof technology will be a display in the College of Agricultural Sciences exhibit.

Penn State is at the forefront of green-roof research with green roofs on a number of campus buildings. Researchers have been studying green roofs for more than a decade.

Drinking water quality

The Penn State focus will also include drinking water quality and testing. There are more than 1 million private wells in Pennsylvania, and about half of those tested have at least one water-quality problem.

Presented by Penn State’s Master Well Owner Network — Pennsylvania’s volunteer network for private water-system protection — this exhibit will offer information for those who depend on private water systems.

Visitors can learn about the top five health-threatening drinking-water contaminants including coliform bacteria, E. coli, lead/copper (corrosivity), nitrate-nitrogen and arsenic. They can also educate themselves about the top five nuisance drinking water contaminants including hardness, hydrogen sulfide, iron, manganese and turbidity.

Water conservation

Each person in Pennsylvania uses more than 60 gallons of water every day just in their home. Some of this water is heated for cooking, bathing and washing, resulting in significant energy costs. Visitors to this exhibit will learn how and why they should conserve water.

Presentations

The college will offer presentations throughout the week on the stage near the college’s exhibit with titles such as attracting birds to your garden, homeowner pesticide safety, floral design, diagnosing plant problems, home greenhouses and cold frames, pollinator gardens, water resources issues for rural landowners, 4-H seeing-eye dogs and coping with high energy prices.

The Pennsylvania Farm Safety and Health Quiz Bowl will be offered by the college at noon Jan. 13. FFA teams will compete in a quiz show format to demonstrate their knowledge of farm safety and health hazards and recommended practices.

The show is held at the Farm Show Complex and Expo Center, at the corner of Cameron and Maclay streets in Harrisburg, just off exit 67 of Interstate 81. Hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Jan. 9-15 and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 16.

Admission is free, and parking is $5. For more information, visit the Web at www.farmshow.state.pa.us.