At age 12, Andrea Foore will be showing cattle in her second Pennsylvania Farm Show this year.  But though she’s no longer a rookie, she admits she’s likely to experience some pre-show butterflies.

“I get really nervous before I go in, but once I’m out there I feel OK,” said Andrea, whose family owns Woodland Acres Farm in Seven Valleys.

Andrea’s jitters might be unwarranted. Last year her heifer, Eve, took home senior heifer calf champion, and the seventh-grader at Southern York County Middle School said she feels like she might “do OK” with the same heifer this year.

For many York countians like Andrea, the Farm Show—which opens Saturday in Harrisburg—is a family affair, not to mention a tradition that stretches back for generations.

Andrea’s 10-year-old brother, Logan, is also showing a heifer at the Farm Show this year and the whole family has been working hard to help the siblings prepare.

Up at 4 a.m.: Sometimes Andrea gets up as early as 4 a.m. to prepare her animals for the show. But she says it’s worth it.  “I think it’s really fun because I get to see all my friends, and we walk around together.”

Chris Foore, Andrea and Logan’s mom, said they represent the fourth generation to show cattle from Woodland Acres Farm, which was established by her grandparents.  “It’s mainly the kids’ project but everyone works together,” she said.

In Red Lion, on another family farm, the Florys are busy preparing for the Farm Show as well.

Tasha Flory and her dad, Thomas, both show animals. Tasha is a busy Red Lion High School senior—she works a part-time job and is getting ready to attend Central Pennsylvania College in the fall—but she’s been pulling long hours getting her animals, a lamb named Ace and a pig, ready for the show.

“It gets pretty stressful, but I enjoy it,” Tasha said.

Tasha’s familiar with the process. She’s been showing animals for about seven years and “every year I get master showman,” for her skills in presenting and handling her animals, she said.  But her main goal is to place in the top half of her class so she can make sale because the money she makes from selling her animals goes toward her college tuition.  When it comes to future career plans, Tasha is more interested in physical therapy than agriculture, but for now she’s having fun.

Senator has horses: State Sen. Mike Waugh and his wife, Wanda, won’t be giving Tasha any competition. They’re showing Percheron horses at the Farm Show for the seventh or eighth year in a row.  Waugh owns Glen Ridge Farms in Shrewsbury and is the third generation of his family to work with horses.

“Both my father and my grandfather were teamsters,” he said.

Waugh’s horses—draft, or work horses, some of which weigh in at more than a ton—are award-winning, and the state senator admits to loving the competitive nature of showing. But he said “the most important thing is the friendships involved with it” and educating people about agriculture, Pennsylvania’s biggest industry.

Local businesses are also gearing up for this week’s Farm Show.

Wolfgang Candy is setting up a stand in the food court again this year. Bob Wolfgang says the Farm Show is “a great opportunity to show support for Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania agriculture.” But the benefits for businesses can’t be ignored.  “We had a lot of success at the Farm Show last year, and more importantly there are people coming from all over, not just Pa.,” said managing partner Mike Schmid. He said the Farm Show is an excellent way for local companies to branch out.

American Seed Co., based in Porters Sideling outside of Spring Grove, may not be able to attract customers with chocolate samples, but it is selling products both the human and animal Farm Show goers can enjoy.  Visitors to the main exhibition hall can buy popcorn, field seed or alfalfa from the company’s stand. The company has been participating in the Farm Show for many years, and Michael Rishel, American Seed president, said he always has “a lot of fun meeting people and answering questions,” particularly about new agricultural technology.

About the Farm Show
When: Saturday through Saturday, Jan. 13. Open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, closes at 5 p.m. on Jan. 13.

Where: Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, Harrisburg. Located along Cameron and Maclay streets, just off Exit 67A of Interstate 81.

Cost: Free admission, parking $5 per car

For more information: www.farmshow.state.pa.us
-- Reach Alysia Patterson at 854-1575 or news@yorkdispatch.com.