The 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show wrapped up Saturday, concluding 8 days of events, celebrations, and exhibitions featuring Pennsylvanians across the diverse spectrum of the state’s $132.5 billion agriculture industry.

The 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show — Pennsylvania’s State Fair — kicked off a year of America250PA celebrations recognizing the Commonwealth’s role in the birth and future of our nation.

“Pennsylvania’s farmers today continue a proud legacy that stretches back centuries and do the noble work of feeding their neighbors,” said Gov. Josh Shapiro.

Russell Redding, the secretary of agriculture, met with countless influential leaders in agriculture and government throughout the 2026 Farm Show, as well as many of the hundreds of thousands of consumers whose local purchasing power supports the industry across the Commonwealth.

“During the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show, we have celebrated Pennsylvanians in agriculture, honoring our past and investing in our future,” Redding said. “America began here in Pennsylvania, and our future is rooted in Pennsylvania agriculture. Together, we are ‘Growing A Nation.”

Among an estimated 500,000 visitors, special guests, including Pennsylvania First Lady Lori Shapiro, joined the celebration, along with a host of other local, state, and federal officials, and Pennsylvanians of all walks of life.

Here are a few glimpses of the milestones reached:

• Shapiro announced the upcoming opening of the second round of funding for the first-in-the-nation Agriculture Innovation Grant Program by securing a total of $20 million for the program and making targeted investments in sustainable farming practices, farmland preservation, avian influenza management and recovery, and expanding markets for organic farming.

• Giving students of all ages the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed in agricultural careers: Grand and Reserve Champion livestock, raised and shown by youth, were auctioned off in the Sale of Champions, followed by 411 additional market animals.

The PA Farm Show Scholarship Foundation awarded 21 college students from 18 Pennsylvania counties and 10 universities, each with $6,000 scholarship from funds raised at the 2025 Farm Show.

• Growing local economies by promoting quality Pennsylvania products: 18 calves from four family-run dairy farms were born at the Calving Corner, connecting crowds daily with the miracle of birth.

Pennsylvania’s longstanding tradition, a 1,000-pound butter sculpture, featured defining moments in U.S. history that happened in Pennsylvania and progress in agriculture that has fed the nation’s growth. The sculpture was dismantled Sunday, Jan. 18, by 4-H members, and will be recycled in a methane digester funded in part by a $130,000 grant through Pennsylvania’s $10 million Agricultural Innovation Grant Program.

• Feeding professional development, education, and growth for agricultural organizations: With sales figures still rolling in, the commodity producers and youth organizations hosting Food Court booths during the show will continue to help their members reach the consumers who buy their products and help feed Pennsylvania’s economy.

— Pennsylvania FFA Foundation sold 25,000 slices of pizza, with 1,700 lbs. of mozzarella cheese, and 20,000 lemonade servings from 4,400 lbs. of lemons.

— Pennsylvania Beekeepers Association served 497 gallons of ice cream, 14,000 honey sticks, 2.5 tons of honey, and sold 950 lbs. of beeswax.

— Pennsylvania Cooperative potato growers treated visitors to 23,000 lbs. of fresh-cut french fries, 9,000 lbs. of baked potatoes, 90,000 pierogi, 550 gallons of batter in potato cakes, 2,000 lbs. of baked sweet potatoes, and 20,000 lbs. of potato donuts.

— Mushroom farmers sold 10,000 pounds of mushrooms in six menu items, contributing to their national leader position.

— Pennsylvania Livestock Association pleased crowds with more than 30,000 pounds of pork, beef, and other products.

— PA Dairymen’s Association patrons downed 20,200 gallons of milkshakes,1,600 loaves of bread for grilled cheese sandwiches, and 7,200 pounds of mozzarella cheese cubes.

DEP: Test your home for radon

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is encouraging Pennsylvanians to test their homes for radon during Radon Action Month, bringing public awareness to a very serious health hazard.

“Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer after smoking in the United States, and is a serious concern within the Commonwealth, but it is also very easy to protect yourself and your family from this naturally occurring gas,” said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley. “January is a great month to pick up a test kit from the local hardware store, put it on the lowest floor of your house, and find out if your home has radon. And if you do have elevated levels, DEP has a list of state-certified radon mitigation system installers that can work with you to address it.”

Radon is responsible for an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year in the U.S., according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and about 40% of Pennsylvania homes have radon levels above the EPA action level of 4.0 pCi/L (picocuries per liter). While radon problems may be more common in some regions, there is potential for any home to have high radon levels.

Due to its unique geology, Pennsylvania is particularly prone to elevated radon levels, and the only way homeowners can know for certain if they have a radon problem is to test their home. DEP recommends that all homes, schools, public and private buildings get tested. The best time to test is during the colder months, when homes and buildings are closed, and radon is most likely to be trapped and accumulate to higher levels.

Radon test kits are also available at many home improvement and hardware stores, as well as from Pennsylvania-certified radon laboratories. Radon test kits typically cost approximately $20-$30. Completed test kits are sent to a Pennsylvania-certified lab where the sample is analyzed, and the results are sent to the home or building owner. Homeowners can also hire a state-certified radon testing company to conduct the testing for them. Even homes with mitigation systems installed should be tested every 2 years.

The public is encouraged to call DEP’s Radon Division at 717-783-3594 or the Radon Hotline at 800-237-2366 for help interpreting their test results and determining whether follow-up action is necessary.

PSP announces firearms purchase denials

The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) this week announced the number of firearms purchase denials and subsequent investigations for the fourth quarter of 2025.

The Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) is used by county sheriffs, chiefs of police of cities of the first class, and licensed firearms dealers in Pennsylvania to determine an individual’s legal ability to acquire a license to carry firearms or obtain a firearm through a purchase or transfer.

According to Pennsylvania law, a person commits a felony of the third degree if they make a false oral or written statement on any state- and/or federally-mandated form, or willfully present false identification likely to deceive the seller, licensed dealer, or licensed manufacturer.

When an individual provides false information on a state- and/or federally-mandated form, PSP initiates an investigation, which is referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency with jurisdiction when warranted.

During the PICS process, some individuals are also identified as having an active warrant for their arrest, and law enforcement is contacted by PICS, often leading to the individual’s apprehension at the point of purchase.

Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.