January 12, 2026 - Harrisburg, PA
On the third day of the 2026 Farm Show, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced $600,345 in PA Farm Bill Agriculture & Youth Grants, including 15 matching and 47 direct awards to organizations in 33 counties, funding projects that will empower youth across the state to succeed in Pennsylvania's $132.5 billion agriculture industry. Labor & Industry Secretary Nancy A. Walker, and Education Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe joined Secretary Redding to make the announcement during a Career Expo connecting more than 2,200 Pennsylvania students with career opportunities offered by 48 agricultural businesses."Pennsylvania youth are the fertile ground that will grow our nation's prosperity in the future," Secretary Redding said. "The Shapiro Administration is committed to investing in opportunities every young person needs to succeed. Our investments in relevant agriculture education today will help Pennsylvania agriculture businesses meet increasingly complex challenges tomorrow."Governor Josh Shapiro's bipartisan 2025-26 budget funds a seventh year of Ag & Youth Grants through the PA Farm Bill. Since 2019, Ag & Youth Grants have supported $3.5 million in 377 projects that are providing opportunities for students statewide.Speaker List:Sara Gligora, Pennsylvania Agriculture Central Regional Director & Special Assistant for Workforce DevelopmentAlyssa Kariofyllis, Program Manager, Trellis for Tomorrow Food for AllPennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell ReddingPennsylvania Secretary of Labor & Industry Nancy A. WalkerPennsylvania Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie RoweEvan Espenshade, Pennsylvania Grange Youth Ambassador