Another Ag Progress Days first-timer was Nathan Tiyce, who recently transferred to the College of Agricultural Sciences to pursue a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science. Tiyce grew up in Australia and spent more than five years working on a 15,000-acre dryland cropping and sheep farm.
Tiyce, who is a punter for the Penn State Nittany Lions football team, said agriculture has always been an important part of his life and is an industry he hopes to remain involved in long-term.
“Ag Progress Days is an opportunity for me to see how agriculture is done here in the U.S., especially the machinery and new technology being used,” he said. “It also is a great way to meet people in the ag industry and make connections. It’s interesting to hear from farmers and people working in agriculture here and compare their experiences with what I’ve seen back home.”
Equine activities, the Pasto Agricultural Museum and other exhibits and demonstrations offered visitors additional opportunities to experience agriculture firsthand. On Wednesday, more than 600 agricultural leaders, government officials, producers, industry representatives and Penn State stakeholders gathered for the annual Government and Industry Luncheon, during which they discussed issues and challenges facing Pennsylvania agriculture.
Speakers included Neeli Bendapudi, Penn State president; Troy Ott, Peter and Ann Tombros Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences; Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding; U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson; and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, who presented a proclamation from Gov. Josh Shapiro commemorating 50 years of Rock Springs as the permanent expo site. Waded Cruzado, president of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, also addressed the crowd.
Among those who attended the luncheon was Matt Gabler, chief operating officer of the Appropriations Committee of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, who said the event provides a valuable opportunity to learn about the people and organizations driving agriculture in the commonwealth.
“Penn State does a great job of bringing together people in agriculture, people who are making investments, people who are maintaining our way of life,” Gabler said. “So, this is a great opportunity to put things back in perspective, connect with reality and enjoy ourselves while we’re doing it.”
For some, Ag Progress Days is a tradition that stretches back nearly as far as the show’s time at Rock Springs. Sue Nuss, of State College, for example, has volunteered with the Ag Progress Days office since the 1970s. Her late husband, Bob, an ornamental horticulture professor and extension specialist, also was an active Ag Progress Days supporter, often manning the “Ask the Experts” booth.
Over the decades, Nuss has watched the show change, but one thing has kept her coming back: the people.
“It’s interesting to see how everything comes together,” she said. “And then there are the connections — seeing people you’ve known over the years and running into people you haven’t seen in a long time. And, of course, meeting new friends.”
As Ag Progress Days marked 50 years at Rock Springs, the blend of familiar faces and newcomers reflected both the continuity of the show and the changes in agriculture it has showcased over the decades, noted Ott, who, in addition to serving as the college’s dean, is the director of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station.
“The equipment, technology and agricultural practices on display have changed tremendously since Ag Progress Days began, but the reason people continue to come really hasn’t changed,” he said. “They come to see what’s new in agriculture, learn something and, just as importantly, connect with the people who make up our agricultural community.”
