Harrisburg - The Pennsylvania Farm Show Scholarship Foundation presented 25 students with $3,500 scholarships on Tuesday, Jan. 11, at the 2011 Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.

Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding presented the scholarship awards, recognizing the integral contributions youth make in keeping Pennsylvania growing.

"The future of Pennsylvania agriculture looks bright thanks to the hard work and dedication of these young leaders," said Redding. "We also thank their parents and families who have molded them into these outstanding individuals, and to the foundation for providing this investment in the state's number one industry."

The foundation has awarded $886,250 to 344 junior Farm Show exhibitors since the program began in 1993. In addition, Delaware Valley College provides matching grants to its recipients, and in 2011, Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences offers $2,000 to its full-time students.

The 2011 scholarship recipients are:
• Denise Beam, Elverson, Chester County
• Annie Cekada, Mineral Point, Cambria County
• Laura Dewalt, Easton, Northampton County
• Amanda Dobbs, Newport, Perry County
• Brandon Dunlap, Shippensburg, Franklin County
• Ryan Fisher, Bethel, Berks County
• Hannah Grim, East Berlin, Adams County
• Beth Ann Hartzog, Patton, Cambria County
• Lisa Hershey, Kirkwood, Lancaster County
• Kimberly Langhans, Elizabethville, Dauphin County
• Troy Longenecker, Annville, Lebanon County
• Lexie Matthews, Scenery Hill, Washington County
• Anthony Miller, Jr., Northern Cambria, Indiana County
• Laura Pifer, Rochester Mills, Indiana County
• Darla Romberger, Pitman, Schuylkill County
• Samantha Sarnicke, McMurray, Washington County
• Ashley Shaw, Harrisburg, Dauphin County
• Jena Sigel, Breezewood, Bedford County
• Jessica Sheruda, Dalton, Lackawanna County
• Robyn Terrel, Honesdale, Wayne County
• Justene Testa, Latrobe, Westmoreland County
• Levi Tinney, Convington, Tioga County
• Rebecca Wenger, Annville, Lebanon County
• Hannah Wentworth, Quarryville, Lancaster County
• Caitlin Wolfgang, Middletown, Dauphin County

The Pennsylvania Farm Show is the largest indoor agricultural event in the nation, featuring nearly 6,000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits and 290 commercial exhibitors. The show runs Jan. 8-15 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. Admission is free and parking is $10.

For more information, visit www.farmshow.state.pa.us.

Editor's Note: To receive news releases, media advisories and story ideas, subscribe to the Farm Show Media Service at www.farmshow.state.pa.us (click on Media).

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For photos of the event, click here.