The Calving Corner Exhibit Is Part of the PA Farm Show Each Year
To help share the story of Pennsylvania dairy farming directly with consumers and families, the 2026 Calving Corner exhibit reached hundreds of thousands of visitors at the PA Farm Show this January. With a live stream that runs all week long, the exhibit also reached more than 55,700 people virtually. The exhibit is a true industry-wide effort, with more than 25 organizations offering financial and on-site support and 14 dairy farms and businesses providing in-kind contributions. A total of four dairy farm families brought their cows to the exhibit, one herdsman cared for the cows and assisted with births throughout the week, 10 college student interns managed the week-long exhibit, and more than 100 dairy producers, veterinarians, and industry professionals volunteered their time to answer questions from visitors.
“There’s so much anticipation and excitement each year as Farm Show visitors witness the miracle of birth and learn where their dairy products come from. They not only get to see cows and calves firsthand, but they get to talk directly with dairy producers and professionals across the industry who are committed to caring for their animals and producing a high-quality product,” said Miriam Miller, project manager for the Calving Corner. “This exhibit continues to be such a rewarding way to help enhance the public’s understanding of production agriculture, and it wouldn’t be possible without all the backing and financial support we receive from sponsors across the dairy industry.”
The dairy farms that participated in the 2026 Calving Corner exhibit included Rock Solid Dairy owned by the Garber family of Cumberland County, Pa.; Kurtland Farm owned by the Kurtz family of Berks County, Pa.; Sweigart Dairy owned by the Sweigart family of Lancaster County, Pa.; and Penn England Farms owned by the England family of Blair County, Pa.
“Participating in the Calving Corner at the PA Farm Show really reinforced for me how important firsthand experiences are in helping the public understand modern dairy farming. Watching visitors become genuinely excited about the miracle of birth — and asking thoughtful questions directly to farmers — showed just how powerful this program is as a bridge between producers and consumers,” shared Yvette Longenecker of Penn England Farms, one of the farms that brought cows to this year’s exhibit. “When people have the chance to learn directly from those of us caring for the animals every day, it builds trust, appreciation, and a stronger connection to the dairy community.”
Several visitors shared their thoughts about why the exhibit is so impactful for them:
- Transparency into farming practices. “I greatly appreciate what you do and your goal to educate people about the dairy industry and the calving process! Your team is so great at explaining everything and answering questions and translating into terms that kids can understand, too.”
- Farm-to-community connections. “What a tremendous opportunity to educate and involve the community of all ages – and share the experience of dairy farming and the cycle of life in general. Thanks to all the volunteers. It’s tremendous the amount of planning and work that goes into it.”
- An appreciation for farmers. “This is always a hit for our family! We always leave having learned something new and feeling a refreshed appreciation for all the work that goes into [dairy farming].”
- A deeper understanding of agriculture from urban visitors. “It was great and very educational because we are from a city. We don’t really get to be up close to agriculture often. This is our chance.”
- A kid-friendly experience. “The Calving Corner is a positive and professional experience: it was real life and handled with such care and education. My 6-year-old loved watching the baby calves. I even sent the link to a family member out of state to watch as well.”
“I feel this exhibit has a very beneficial impact. The crowd’s reaction never gets old, and I love working with our interns. It’s a great bunch of young people in the dairy industry, and that excites me,” shared Tom Stoltzfus, the herdsman for the 2026 Calving Corner.
Thank you to the 2026 sponsors of the Calving Corner: Friends of PA Farm Show Foundation, American Dairy Association North East, Professional Dairy Managers of PA (PDMP), Allied Milk Producers, Center for Dairy Excellence, PA Dairymen’s Association, PA Department of Agriculture, Northeast Agricultural Education Foundation, Horizon Farm Credit, Giant, Land O’Lakes, Dairy Farmers of America, Feedworks USA, 4WardAg, Maola Local Dairies, Univest Financial, Fulton Bank, Morrissey Insurance, Pennsylvania Holstein Association, PA Beef Council, Premier Select Sires, Walmoore Holsteins, Oregon Dairy Farm LLC, Myron Diller, and Dairy Excellence Foundation.
Several dairy farmers and businesses helped support the exhibit through in-kind donations, including: Brandt’s Farm Supply, Fisher & Thompson Inc., Dotterer Dairy, Hoover Shavings, Cargill, Pennwood Farms, Lebanon Valley Farms, Way-Har Farms, Boehringer Ingelheim, ImmuCell, Brook-Corner Holsteins, TechMix, Zoetis, and JBZ Dairy Advantage.
To learn more about how to support the 2027 exhibit, get involved, or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact Miriam Miller at Miriam@thecalvingcorner.org.