The University's exhibit at the 74th Pennsylvania State Farm show last week drew thousands of competitors and spectators to recognize the state's No. 1 industry.

This year's theme, "Pennsylvania Agriculture -- Good Food for Our Families," saluted the state's 55,000 farms and 2,000 food processors who provide food across the state and around the world. The show is the country's largest indoor agricultural exposition.

Penn State's exhibit, designed and built by the University's College of Agriculture, featured programs on integrated pest-management education, which is a cooperation between the agriculture department and the Crop Management Association. The exhibit showed how to properly use and dispose of hazardous household chemicals and gave detailed information on food safety, agricultural safety and career and academic programs.

Marianne Houser, an agricultural education instructor, said the University' s exhibit featured research the everyday consumer could understand. Several programs within the exhibit, Houser said, featured computer quizzes consumers could take before seeing the exhibit to test their knowledge of topics ranging from agricultural safety to food preparation.

Greg Silver, assistant to the dean for communications of the College of Agriculture, said one of the largest attractions at the farm show was a tractor safety demonstration in the University's exhibit, which drew close to 6,000 spectators daily. Silver, who also worked on the radio and television committee for the farm show, said the one-eighth scale model tractor was used to demonstrate how easy it is to overturn a tractor.

About 10 student representatives, or agricultural advocates, from the College of Agriculture were sent daily to assist with the exhibit, Houser said. Among the representatives, two outstanding students, Andy Hipple and Michele Swope, were named Mr. and Miss College of Agriculture. The student representatives assisted with the exhibition and distributed brochures to attract potential students from across the state.

Matt Smilo (sophomore-poultry science), who spent the day working at a stand that sold poultry products raised on the University's poultry farm, said he thought the exhibit represented the University well.

In addition to the student representatives, Silver said, a large number of University faculty attended the different exhibitions and competitions.

The College of Agriculture manages the Penn State Cooperative Extension program, a joint effort between the federal and state governments to work with people at local levels concerning agricultural issues. Extension offices and programs are located within each of the state's 67 counties, Silver said. The extension program assists local farmers in the areas of crop production and livestock management, among others, he said. The 4-H Club, which sponsored many of the animals shown in the Farm Show, is a member of the extension program, Silver said.

Aside from the Penn State exhibit, Silver said, many students from all majors competed individually in the show.