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[Page H211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
104TH PENNSYLVANIA FARM SHOW
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, recently, I had the
pleasure of kicking off the new year by attending the 104th
Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the largest indoor
agriculture exposition in the world.
The Pennsylvania Farm Show dates back to 1917, when the first event
showcased 44 commercial exhibitors featuring the latest in farm
machinery and 440 competitive exhibitors. Since then, the Pennsylvania
Farm Show has become the largest indoor agriculture exhibition in the
would.
Dr. Milton Eisenhower, Penn State University president at the time
and brother of President Dwight Eisenhower, dubbed the Pennsylvania
Farm Show ``always the greatest show on Earth'' during his 1955 visit.
Thanks to the sustained dedication by Pennsylvania farmers and farm
families, tens of thousands of volunteers, and generations of
agribusiness owners, the Pennsylvania Farm Show continues to be the
greatest show on Earth. Today, the Pennsylvania Farm Show has grown to
approximately 6,000 animals, 12,000 exhibits, and 600,000 visitors
throughout the week.
Each year, I host a congressional listening session at the farm show
to hear directly from farmers, industry experts, and the agriculture
advocates about their priorities as well as their concerns.
I want to say thank you to Representatives John Joyce, Fred Keller,
and Dan Meuser, as well as Senator Bob Casey and Pennsylvania
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, for joining me for the 2020
congressional listening session at the farm show.
Even after more than a decade of serving on the House Agriculture
Committee, there is no experience that replaces the value of meeting
with our farmers, ranchers, and producers face-to-face.
With the right policies and good investments, rural America can be
just as strong as the hardworking men and women who call it home. A
robust rural America is not possible without a strong rural economy,
and thanks to the passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada trade
agreement and a soon-to-be-signed agreement with China, new market
opportunities for agricultural exports are on the horizon. New markets
are the key to economic growth and stability for our farm families.
Stability also means having reliable safety net programs in place
when times are particularly tough and when the weather is threatening
our ability to feed ourselves. Over the years, technology has advanced
and the economy has diversified, and keeping up with the demands of a
new era is necessary to compete in the modern marketplace.
With connectivity, broadband, and, specifically, 5G, rural businesses
will be better equipped to compete. Connectivity also expands
opportunities for the next generation in rural America, helping signal
to younger people that rural America is a great place to call home, to
start a business, and to raise a family.
After spending several days at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, I am
increasingly confident that the future of rural America is bright.
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