Butter sculpture contest, ag tours among new virtual features of 2021 PA Farm Show

The state Department of Agriculture has a suggestion for using butter left over from holiday baking.

Keystone State residents 5 or older are invited to enter “Butter Up!” — a new contest that is part of this year’s virtual Pennsylvania Farm Show, set for Jan. 9-16.

Because of pandemic-related restrictions, the 105th edition of the agricultural showcase won’t bring throngs to Harrisburg. Instead, people will be able to check out a mix of live and prerecorded presentations and activities online or via televised airings on the Pennsylvania Cable Network.

In previous years, a 1,000-pound butter sculpture has been an eye-catching mainstay of the farm show. This year, residents are invited to apply their own creativity, sculpting up to 5 pounds of butter into a contest entry.

Entrants may include a base and a wire framework to support their sculpture, but dye can’t be used to enhance the color of the butter. Photos of sculptures must be submitted through the Farm Show Facebook page, starting Jan. 9 through 8 p.m. Jan. 16.

Winners of $50 and $25 gift cards donated by Giant Eagle and other Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association members will be determined in five age categories by fan responses on the Facebook page from Jan. 18-22.

“Although this year’s competitive events look different, what remains is a showcase of the quality and breadth of Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry and those who make it thrive,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said.

Some virtual competitive events will focus on apiary entries, beer, Christmas trees, junior market cattle, maple syrup, vegetables, wine and wool. Area wineries that are participating include Bella Terra Vineyards in Hunker and Black Dog Wine Company in Oakdale.

Public speaking and educational videos will be judged in events that are new to the show.

Live camera feeds will offer views of the intricate society of a beehive and of calves being born. Pennsylvania State 4-H Council President Jillian Ranko will demonstrate an alpaca obstacle course.

Discussions will range from topics of interest to farmers to more general concerns, such as protecting the quality of home drinking water and staying safe from ticks while outdoors. Some programs require advance registration.

Parents of school children who are engaged in remote learning may appreciate presentations of educational activities that can be duplicated at home, including DIY hydroponics, growing plants from food scraps and tie-dyeing with plants.

Virtual tours will introduce viewers to agricultural operations across the state, including some run by veterans, as well as Valencia-based Harvest Valley Farms, which grows more than 160 varieties of vegetables.

Art King is a partner in the fourth-generation family business that also operates a farm market nearby in Gibsonia. He has volunteered at the state farm show for about 25 years, helping man a booth for the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association, an organization that recruited him to host a virtual tour.

Filming at the Butler County farm and Allegheny County market took place in early November. “They wanted someone in Western Pennsylvania,” King said. “We had a beautiful day. We spent a couple of hours. We went in the red beet field, and we looked at the broccoli and cauliflower and the spinach in the greenhouse.”

The program on the Valencia farm is scheduled to debut at 3 p.m. Jan. 11, to be viewed on the event Facebook page or the PCN cable channel.

Other local ag businesses to be featured virtually in the farm show are Maple Bottom Farm, a dairy farm and bed and breakfast in Dawson and Scottdale, and Pleasant Lane Farms, a family dairy farm near the Unity village of Pleasant Unity that has found success during the pandemic by growing its cheese-making enterprise.

Jason Frye, one of three brothers involved in the farm, along with their father, said the video they submitted for the show explains some of their operating strategies while offering views of their creamery.

“They wanted some video of the future agritours we, hopefully, will do in the spring,” he said, noting they are awaiting arrival of robotic milking equipment.

The farm show’s culinary offerings will include a “Let’s Make Dinner” demonstration by Darren Layre, executive sous chef at Alta Via in O’Hara, and Mike Ditchfield, chef instructor at the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport. Their take on BBQ pulled pork pizza with caramelized onions, arugula, provolone cheese and shaved butternut squash is set for 4:30 p.m. Jan. 15.

Visit farmshow.pa.gov for a full schedule of this year’s virtual offerings, including links for registration and contest details.

Follow @PAFarmShow on Instagram for a behind-the-scenes look at various Pennsylvania farming specialties.