Pennsylvania outdoor agricultural expo Ag Progress Days and farm advocacy organization Invest in Our Land are working with Kansas resident and renowned crop artist Stan Herd to bring his artistry to the event, set for Aug. 13-15.
Herd unveiled a 2-acre crop art installation, inspired by Wendell Berry’s poignant poem “Below.” Featuring the words “We stand for what we stand on,” the art is intended serve as a visual testament to the unity and resilience of farmers in their fight for sustainable agriculture, according to a news release.
The artwork emphasizes a message about the need for continued support for climate-smart farming practices. The art encourages farmers of all ages to align their lifestyle and advocacy with environmental stewardship and highlights Berry’s legacy of support for farmers and sustainable practices, according to the release.
“When I began to think about what words could convey a message as important as preserving conservation funding, and specifically climate smart funding, in America’s heartland, I found myself turning to Wendell Berry, whose teachings have been a guide for me throughout my career on the land,” Herd said in the release. “The words in this artwork came to me like lightning: ‘We stand for what we stand on.’ It’s just good business and important to protect our climate for future generations of farmers.”
All event attendees will have the opportunity to catch a bird’s-eye view of the installation from a hot air balloon, the release said. The expo will take place Aug. 13-15 at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs in Ferguson Township, Centre County. The balloon will run throughout the show, weather permitting.
Attendees also will have the opportunity to learn more about the importance of conservation funding. Educational events include:
- Farmer and legislative reception — The private morning reception will bring together farmers, policymakers and conservation agriculture advocates. The event, set for 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 14 at the Invest in Our Land tent (W106), also will feature attendees from Farm Journal, offering a unique opportunity to connect and strategize for climate-smart agriculture in Pennsylvania and beyond. Officials confirmed to attend include Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa.; Xochitl Torres Small, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture; Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding; and U.S. Rep. Glen Thompson, D-Pa.
- Panels and discussions on climate-smart farming, farm bill — “Farmers’ Insight: Adapting and Thriving with Climate-Smart Practices in Agriculture” will follow the morning reception with a panel centering climate-smart practices in the final negotiations of the farm bill. Farmers will discuss the practical applications of climate-smart practices on their operations, showing the value of maintaining climate guardrails and demonstrating the demand for funding. Set for 1-2 p.m. Aug. 14 at the Farm Family Learning Center’s main campus, Rebecca Bartels, vice president for Trust In Food and Farm Journal Intelligence, will moderate the session featuring the following speakers: Lindsey Shapiro, farm bill campaign organizer for Pasa Sustainable Agriculture; and Pennsylvania farmers John Painter of Painterland Farms, Hayley Painter of Painterland Sisters Yogurt, Jeff Frey of Future View Farms, and Tom Croner of T. Rich Farms Inc.
Ag Progress Days is one of the largest agricultural expos in the eastern U.S., featuring nearly 500 commercial and educational exhibits, crop displays, machinery demonstrations, guided research tours, family and youth activities, horse exhibitions, workshops and the Pasto Agricultural Museum, the release said. The event typically attracts as many as 45,000 visitors from across Pennsylvania and beyond to immerse themselves in the science and business of agriculture.
Invest in Our Land is an organization dedicated to elevating the voices of farmers and ranchers nationwide about the importance of conservation practices and climate smart funding, according to the release.
