Find out what’s been happening at PDA!Having trouble viewing this message?View web version.Shapiro Administration And The Bridge Eco-Village Host 325 Area K-12 Students For Hands-On Agriculture Career Inspiration Agriculture Deputy Secretary Lisa Graybeal and The Bridge Eco-Village Founder and CEO Garry Gilliam hosted 325 area K-12 students for hands-on agriculture career inspiration and exploration at The Bridge Eco-Village in Harrisburg. Students learned plant and animal care as Gilliam lead them in a demonstration of climate-friendly, urban, community-based agriculture powered by solar energy, bees, and kid-assisted, gravity-powered rainwater irrigation in The Bridge’s stadium garden.RecapSee MoreShapiro Administration Calls For Grant Proposals To Boost Sales And Expand Export Markets For Pennsylvania Products Secretary Redding invites proposals for projects designed to boost domestic sales and exports of Pennsylvania agricultural products. The department plans to award up to $303,000 in matching funds to PA nonprofits to reimburse up to 50% of costs for promotional and educational projects intended to increase consumer awareness and sales or expand export markets. The amount available for grants will ultimately depend on the final 2023-24 budget.Read MorePA Department Of Education Highlights Agriculture Education In Danville Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Executive Deputy Secretary Angela Fitterer visited Danville Area High School to highlight how their agriculture programs are helping to prepare students for the future. “Agriculture is one of Pennsylvania’s biggest industries and a major driver for our economy. Giving students the chance to explore potential careers in agriculture is an investment in the future workforce of the Commonwealth,” said Executive Deputy Secretary Fitterer. Read MorePennsylvanians Encourage to Pay It Forward, Carry Out Acts of Kindness on 1-4-3 Day, May 23Fifth annual holiday inspired by Pennsylvania native Fred Rogers Governor Josh Shapiro has called upon Pennsylvanians to share in acts of kindness in celebration of 1-4-3 Day in Pennsylvania on May 23. The day marked the fifth annual 1-4-3 Day, which was established in honor of Pennsylvania’s native son, Fred Rogers. Mister Rogers regularly used 1-4-3 as a way of saying I-Love-You on his beloved television series, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. His reference was to the number of letters in each word, and May 23 is the 143rd day of the year.Read More1-4-3 Day The PA Department of Agriculture and the Hardwoods Development Council are proud of Pennsylvania’s forest products industry. A.M. Logging is an example of a company that goes above and beyond the call of action – they are a pillar within their community and active in advocacy, education, outreach, and uphold many of the shared values of commonwealth’s forest products industry. For these reasons they have been named by the Forest Resources Association as the 2023 National Outstanding Logger. Congratulations A.M. Logging! Around 200 elementary students joined Deputy Secretary Lisa Graybeal at Vale Wood Farms in Loretto for a Farm City Day field trip. Students met the cows of Vale Wood Farms, participated in a milk experiment with the Center for Dairy Excellence, learned about seeds with Pennsylvania 4-H State Council members and even had the chance to “drive” a tractor thanks to a VR headset available on the PA Friends of Agriculture Foundation Immersion Lab. See More The annual Environthon competition was held at Camp Mount Luther, west of Mifflinburg, PA. The event was a collaboration between county conservation districts, state wildlife and environmental agencies, and state school districts. Hundreds of teachers and professionals throughout PA guided high school students through this natural resource environmental education program that combines classroom learning and outdoor activities. This exposure to nature and seeing how humans impact the natural world provided invaluable lessons to students for understanding ecosystems and the environment.Results Warm weather can mean a lot to Pennsylvanians. It’s the sign of another school year coming to an end, the start of a growing season, and, of course, county fair time! The 2023 PA Fair guide is now available. What fairs will you be visiting this year?Plan Your VisitLast chance to complete the 2022 Census of Agriculture, One week left to return the questionnaire The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will end data collection for the 2022 Census of Agriculture on May 31. Producers who have not yet returned their completed questionnaires have just one week left to respond. Federal law requires everyone who received the ag census to complete and return it. Recipients can respond online or by mail.Learn More If you or someone you know is a PA farmer who is struggling, call the AgriStress helpline at 833-897-AGRI (2474). Resources are available. Learn More
Shapiro Administration And The Bridge Eco-Village Host 325 Area K-12 Students For Hands-On Agriculture Career Inspiration Agriculture Deputy Secretary Lisa Graybeal and The Bridge Eco-Village Founder and CEO Garry Gilliam hosted 325 area K-12 students for hands-on agriculture career inspiration and exploration at The Bridge Eco-Village in Harrisburg. Students learned plant and animal care as Gilliam lead them in a demonstration of climate-friendly, urban, community-based agriculture powered by solar energy, bees, and kid-assisted, gravity-powered rainwater irrigation in The Bridge’s stadium garden.RecapSee More 
Shapiro Administration Calls For Grant Proposals To Boost Sales And Expand Export Markets For Pennsylvania Products Secretary Redding invites proposals for projects designed to boost domestic sales and exports of Pennsylvania agricultural products. The department plans to award up to $303,000 in matching funds to PA nonprofits to reimburse up to 50% of costs for promotional and educational projects intended to increase consumer awareness and sales or expand export markets. The amount available for grants will ultimately depend on the final 2023-24 budget.Read MorePA Department Of Education Highlights Agriculture Education In Danville Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Executive Deputy Secretary Angela Fitterer visited Danville Area High School to highlight how their agriculture programs are helping to prepare students for the future. “Agriculture is one of Pennsylvania’s biggest industries and a major driver for our economy. Giving students the chance to explore potential careers in agriculture is an investment in the future workforce of the Commonwealth,” said Executive Deputy Secretary Fitterer. Read MorePennsylvanians Encourage to Pay It Forward, Carry Out Acts of Kindness on 1-4-3 Day, May 23Fifth annual holiday inspired by Pennsylvania native Fred Rogers Governor Josh Shapiro has called upon Pennsylvanians to share in acts of kindness in celebration of 1-4-3 Day in Pennsylvania on May 23. The day marked the fifth annual 1-4-3 Day, which was established in honor of Pennsylvania’s native son, Fred Rogers. Mister Rogers regularly used 1-4-3 as a way of saying I-Love-You on his beloved television series, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. His reference was to the number of letters in each word, and May 23 is the 143rd day of the year.Read More1-4-3 Day 
The PA Department of Agriculture and the Hardwoods Development Council are proud of Pennsylvania’s forest products industry. A.M. Logging is an example of a company that goes above and beyond the call of action – they are a pillar within their community and active in advocacy, education, outreach, and uphold many of the shared values of commonwealth’s forest products industry. For these reasons they have been named by the Forest Resources Association as the 2023 National Outstanding Logger. Congratulations A.M. Logging!
Around 200 elementary students joined Deputy Secretary Lisa Graybeal at Vale Wood Farms in Loretto for a Farm City Day field trip. Students met the cows of Vale Wood Farms, participated in a milk experiment with the Center for Dairy Excellence, learned about seeds with Pennsylvania 4-H State Council members and even had the chance to “drive” a tractor thanks to a VR headset available on the PA Friends of Agriculture Foundation Immersion Lab. See More
The annual Environthon competition was held at Camp Mount Luther, west of Mifflinburg, PA. The event was a collaboration between county conservation districts, state wildlife and environmental agencies, and state school districts. Hundreds of teachers and professionals throughout PA guided high school students through this natural resource environmental education program that combines classroom learning and outdoor activities. This exposure to nature and seeing how humans impact the natural world provided invaluable lessons to students for understanding ecosystems and the environment.Results 
Warm weather can mean a lot to Pennsylvanians. It’s the sign of another school year coming to an end, the start of a growing season, and, of course, county fair time! The 2023 PA Fair guide is now available. What fairs will you be visiting this year?Plan Your Visit
Last chance to complete the 2022 Census of Agriculture, One week left to return the questionnaire The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will end data collection for the 2022 Census of Agriculture on May 31. Producers who have not yet returned their completed questionnaires have just one week left to respond. Federal law requires everyone who received the ag census to complete and return it. Recipients can respond online or by mail.Learn More
If you or someone you know is a PA farmer who is struggling, call the AgriStress helpline at 833-897-AGRI (2474). Resources are available. Learn More