The Farm Show was quite an experience for our family!
It was very easy to get to. From Lancaster just take Route 283 to I-83, I-81 and then watch for Cameron Street.
We parked in the first boy scout parking lot at the Credit Union, so we could walk to the complex and not have to wait for a shuttle bus.
Even in the cold weather this was not a bad walk with kids.
We entered the complex through the Weis Expo Hall so we could pick up our AgExplorer Checklist. This worked out perfectly for us, because the kids got an animal hat to wear which kept them entertained for the long walk down to the North Hall, where we went next.
Our kids loved the AgExplorer program! It kept us focused and on a mission.
Here are some of the things our kids were able to do in the AgExplorer program:
- make bookmarks and origami projects
- look under a microscope
- play bean bag toss, ring toss and hopscotch
- pet a rabbit, alpaca and a donkey
- play vegetable and fruit trivia games
- participate in an apple picking race
- learn about honey, maple syrup and mushrooms
- and much more!
We finished our AgExplorer scavenger hunt at the end of the day, back in the Weis Expo Hall, by turning in our checklists at the Turkey Hill booth. At the Turkey Hill booth everyone receives a FREE ice cream and beverage, so this is a perfect place to end your family trip!!
Since we attended the farm show on opening day, we had the privilege of seeing the high school rodeo. We watched for about half an hour and got to see calf roping, pole bending and bull riding. We stopped by the large arena again later in the day, and while there was no competing happening at that time, our kids were just as excited to watch the tractor conditioning the dirt for the evening rodeo!
As you tour the facilities your kids will see other children with peacock feathers and probably beg you for one – just a warning. 🙂
They are $1 each and can be found in the North Hall. We’ve created a map with our personal notes on it to show you exactly where the peacock feathers are, as they can be hard to find.
In our opinion, none of the food at the farm show is very frugal, but if you plan accordingly, you can make it fit your budget. (We also packed a few healthy fruits and vegetables for snacks and to help save on our food costs.)
You will love the milkshakes, fries, and soft pretzels – just to name a few! Be sure to note that there are no sitting areas for the food – its just high tables that you stand at. Our kids really wanted to sit at this point, so we took our food to the hallway between the main hall and east hall, where there were plenty of folding chairs set up. We also marked this on our map.
Bringing your camera to the farm show is a must! There will be a lot of great photo opportunities. And remember, anyone can enter photos in the photo contest and have a chance to win $50-100, plus a VIP parking pass for the next year!! You can find more information about the photo contest on page 6 of the PA State Farm Show Guide.
The butterfly room is a must. There is a fee per person, but it is very worth it!
Its not marked on any of the maps, but we did include it on our downloadable map with notes – so be sure to to download that through the link in the description below.
You and your kids will each get a Q-tip saturated in gatorade. Since butterflies taste with their feet, they cling to your Q-tip so you can hold them. This makes for a great photo opportunity!!
We were super excited to find a wood burning booth near the butterfly room as we were leaving. The gentleman at this booth was so kind and just loved what he did! He gave our kids cute little name tags and burned their name into them right there while they watched!
And next to his stand there was someone weaving a chair seat, which was also very entertaining to watch.
We spent about 5 hours at the farm show and most of it was maneuvering a massive crowd of people. No need to fear though, if you’re not a people person, weekdays are not near as busy!
Here is a link to that personalized map I mentioned above. It is a copy of the map we used during our visit to the PA State Farm Show, marked with the things that took us awhile to find on our own.
You will want to pick up your own AgExplorer sheet while at the Farm Show though, so your kids can do the checklist on the back and turn it in to hopefully win a Turkey Hill Experience Family pack of tickets!!
See you next time!
