Future of agriculture grows in Central Pennsylvania

BLAIR COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — Interest in agriculture has taken a hit over the years. Pennsylvania specifically has seen a decline in farming, which is concerning for rural communities.

The main reason for this decline is more farmers are leaving without the next generation stepping up to maintain them. Communities in rural areas find themselves dependent on the youth to take over and have an interest in agriculture.

However, some Central Pennsylvania towns have that support, especially in our area. The support was evident at the Williamsburg Farm Show on Tuesday, Aug. 20. The majority of the fair grounds was empty, with not a vendor in sight, except one area: the barn.

“We have 70 youth here showing today that represents Bedford, Blair and Huntingdon counties,” Angelique Walason, the secretary at the Williamsburg Farm Show, said. “So we are featuring the future of agriculture. The youth is the future of agriculture.”

That area saw large crowd gathered to see young agriculturalists show off certain animals in 39 different show categories. These animals included cows, sheep, goats and pigs.

“If you give a child an animal, they will not get in trouble,” Walason said. “It will give them something to do. It gets them out and gets them involved with the public, and it gets them to learn where their food is coming from, and also to tell other people where their food is coming from.”

The young generation looks to have different reasons as to why they enjoy the agricultural lifestyle.

“I really just learn from my [parents] and living on the farm with them,” Channing Pheasant, the reserve champion for dairy beef, said.

“I really enjoy being with animals,” Kiersten Baker, who won three different grand championships, including the grand champion for dairy beef, said. “We work with them eight hours a day. We bath, blow, walk, feed, clean their pens. A little bit of everything every single day. We also enjoy just being on the farm, so it kind of always impacted our growth on the farm.”

Farming is more than growing crops and tending to cattle, but rather a good teacher for many different things.

“If you get a kid involved in agriculture, whether it be if they are a town kid and you invite them to your farm, a kid will experience what working is and how you take care of an animal,” Walason said. “It makes a very productive teenager and adult.”

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Those lessons goes beyond the farm and into the community, which garnered interest from people in surrounding areas. They can also impact the community in more ways than one, such as helping your wallet and your table.

“It’s where people are getting fed,” Baker said. “It’s honestly teaching kids different manners that are really good for future jobs.”

However, the work does not come easy. It can be a struggle to roll out of bed and work long hours in the sun.

“Dedication is a big thing,” Baker said. “It’s something that’s really hard to do. You have to go at all if you want to do really well. We always wanted to be out there, do the work and give 100%.”

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