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Farm Show Foodie Frenzy: What to Eat

Milkshakes, potatoes, and fried everythingβ€”your taste buds will thank you

By Rachael Benion, publisher, Macaroni KID Harrisburg and West Shore January 3, 2025

Farm Show Food: Come Hungry, Leave Happy (and Maybe 5 Pounds Heavier)

The PA Farm Show isn’t just a celebration of agriculture—it’s a feast fit for kings, queens, and ravenous parents chasing kids through cow barns. If you leave hungry, you did it wrong. Here's your guide to navigating the food court like a pro.

Milkshakes: The Holy Grail of Farm Show Eats

Start here, end here, and possibly stop by in between. These legendary milkshakes are so good they might just bring tears to your eyes. The lines can be long, but it’s worth every second. Pro tip: Grab one for the kids to share so they don’t touch yours. It’s called parental tax, and it’s non-negotiable.

Butter Sculptures and Baked Potatoes

Why look at a butter sculpture when you could eat butter on a baked potato? These spuds are so fluffy and perfect, you’ll wonder why every other potato has been letting you down. Load it with butter, sour cream, and cheese—or just let the potato shine in its purest, buttery form.

Maple Syrup Cotton Candy

Yes, it’s as magical as it sounds. This isn’t your average cotton candy—this is spun-sugar maple goodness that tastes like it fell straight from a Vermont tree. Be warned: It’s sticky, so prepare for toddler hands that double as glue traps.

Pulled Pork Paradise

The BBQ stand is basically heaven for meat lovers. The pulled pork sandwiches are so tender, they practically melt in your mouth. Bonus: They’re big enough to share, but why would you?

Chicken Corn Soup: The Unsung Hero

When the barn chill seeps into your bones, a steaming bowl of chicken corn soup is just what you need. It’s like a warm hug in food form. Pair it with a dinner roll, and you’re officially living your best life.

Apple Dumplings with Ice Cream

Want dessert that feels homemade, even though you’re surrounded by 100,000 people? The apple dumplings are gooey, cinnamony perfection, and the scoop of vanilla ice cream on top is the cherry on, well, the dumpling.

Fried Cheese Cubes

Cheese lovers, this one’s for you. These crispy little nuggets of dairy delight are the perfect handheld snack while wandering through the Tractor Square Dancing. Just don’t let the kids hoard the ketchup packets.

PA Dairymen’s Grilled Cheese

This grilled cheese is so melty and satisfying, it deserves its own fan club. Perfectly toasted bread, gooey cheese, and no judgment if you grab one in each hand.

Sweet Treats for Days

  • Whoopie Pies: A PA classic that’s half cookie, half cake, and 100% delicious.
  • Milkshakes (again): Because they’re that good.
  • Shoo-Fly Pie: Warning: You might find yourself Googling Amish recipes later.

Eat Like a Farm Show Ninja: Tips & Tricks

  • Scout the Food Court First: Take a lap to see what’s calling your name. Then make your game plan.
  • Skip Peak Lunch Hours: Lines get wild between 11:30 AM and 1 PM. Feed the kids an early snack to avoid hangry meltdowns.
  • Bring Wet Wipes: For sticky fingers, milkshake mustaches, and whatever that is on your toddler’s face.
  • Budget Accordingly: Your wallet will be lighter, but your belly will thank you.

And Finally...

Don’t stress if the kids insist on eating nothing but milkshakes and fries all day. It’s the Farm Show! Indulge in the experience, savor the flavors, and remember: calories don’t count when you’re walking 10,000 steps chasing kids and tractors. πŸ„πŸ¦πŸŸ



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Disclaimer: While the genius and humor are mostly mine, I did enlist ChatGPT for minor edits and revisions. Why? Because AI doesn’t roll its eyes at my puns, argue about Oxford commas, or leave red pen marks all over my drafts. So, if you find any unnaturally perfect phrasing or oddly placed semicolons, you know who to thank! πŸ˜‰