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Annual Penn State Horticulture Show slated for Oct. 20-21

The free event will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 20-21, at the Snider Agricultural Arena, located diagonally across Park Avenue from Beaver Stadium on the University Park campus. Credit: Penn State / Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A fall favorite of residents from Centre County and beyond, the Penn State Horticulture Show, will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 20 and 21 at Penn State's University Park campus.

This annual show is planned and presented by the student Horticulture Club in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. The free event is held in the Snider Agricultural Arena, on Park Avenue diagonally across from Beaver Stadium.

The theme for the 105th show is "Sustainable Agriculture." Visitors will be able to walk through fully landscaped exhibits, purchase a variety of plant materials, and even enjoy some fresh fruits and apple cider along the way.

For more than a century, the Horticulture Club has organized this show to give visitors the opportunity to explore various aspects of horticulture. For club members, the goal is to engage students in designing, constructing and operating an event that will attract the public and educate attendees about plants and landscaping, according to Ryan Kieffer, manager of this year's show.

"Every year, the students put in many hours to make incredible displays," said Kieffer, a landscape contracting major from Plum, Pennsylvania. "Their work definitely is appreciated because each year the crowds seem to get bigger. We expect another successful show this year and encourage those who have never attended to come and see what it's all about."

He noted that the students contact landscape companies to request donations of plant materials that are then transported to University Park, where they are integrated into the displays. The plants are labeled and offered for sale, to be picked up when the show closes on Sunday.

In addition to trees and bushes, other items available for purchase include mums, pumpkins, apples and various vegetables. The funds collected from these sales are used to support club activities during the year.

The club, which is open to all majors, encourages members to participate in a variety of events, which include recreational, competitive and philanthropic activities. For more information about the club or the show, contact psuhortshow2018@gmail.com.

Last Updated October 12, 2018

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