HARRISBURG

Area woman appointed to chair board

The Pennsylvania Soybean Board recently appointed Emily Landis of Pennsylvania Furnace, Centre County, to chair the board for the 2024 fiscal year.

Landis is a graduate of Penn State University with an undergraduate degree in agricultural systems management and a graduate degree in animal science. Together with her parents, Landis and her family operate a 400-acre cash grain operation. In addition, along with her husband and son, she raises registered Angus and Hereford cattle and purebred Hampshire sheep. She is also employed as an executive ag relationship manager with Horizon Farm Credit.

DUNCANSVILLE

Students tour Holland Brothers Meats

The Cambria County Farm Bureau recently hosted Admiral Peary Area Vocational Technical School culinary and agriculture students for a tour of Holland Brothers Meats to learn about meat processing.

Holland Brothers part owner Mike Holland showed students their processing facility and demonstrated the different cuts of meat that are taken from hanging beef and how they can be butchered into steaks, roasts and ground beef. Students also learned how other products are made, including hams, bologna and snack sticks.

Cambria County Second Vice President Ethan Hoover attended the tour with the students and explained his personal experience at Admiral Peary in high school and touched on why learning where your food comes from is important.

STATE COLLEGE

Farmland Preservation Artists holding exhibit

Farmland Preservation Artists of Central Pennsylvania are holding an exhibit in the community room at the Schlow Centre Region Library through April 30.

The title of the show is “A Sense of Place.” Nearly 60 pieces of art are being displayed.

FPA was formed in 2005 as a joint enterprise of the Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania and the Centre County Farmland Trust. Its mission is to promote the preservation and appreciation of farmland through the visual arts.

HARRISBURG

Farm Bureau members discuss priorities

Hundreds of Pennsylvania Farm Bureau members recently traveled to Harrisburg to discuss Farm Bureau’s priorities for 2024 with state lawmakers as part of PFB’s annual State Legislative Conference.

PFB members, legislators and their staff attended a luncheon where they heard from key state officials, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Chair Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minority Chair Rep. Dan Moul and state Sen. Judy Schwank, the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minority Chair.

Shapiro outlined his administration’s plan to advance agriculture in Pennsylvania, highlighting permit reform and bringing a Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association processing plant to Philadelphia. PFB President Chris Hoffman shared PFB’s 2024 state priorities, including the challenges that wildlife damage presents to farmers’ bottom lines.

UNIVERSITY PARK

PSU Extension offering gardening program

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners will offer a comprehensive gardening program called “Seed to Supper,” aimed at helping novice, adult gardeners learn how to successfully grow a portion of their own food on a limited budget.

The program provides learners with experiences that increase individual and community food security by fostering food literacy, resiliency, community connectivity and supportive social networks.

As part of a joint effort, local food banks or similar organizations and the Master Gardener program provide Seed to Supper at no cost to eligible adults, including free course materials and supplies. Educators in Penn State Extension’s food, families and communities unit may also provide information on nutrition, cooking and/or preserving to participants.