CENTRE HALL — The sixth annual Pennsylvania Organic Farm Fest was held at the Grange Fairgrounds in Centre Hall on July 28 and 29. The event, which is sponsored by Pennsylvania Certified Organics, based in Spring Mills, celebrates organic farming and sustainable agriculture.
Each year, Farm Fest features indoor and outdoor displays by various organizations and vendors oriented toward organic farming, organic foods and sustainable agriculture. An organic food court is always a highlight, as are the many activities for all ages, including live music, seminars and guest speakers.
FarmFest attendance has grown steadily since its beginning. This year, 5,000 people were expected to attend.
Karl Johnson, the outreach director for Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs, headquartered in Monroe, N.H., displayed eggs from free-range chickens. He said his company supplies chickens to farmers on 132 small farms in 13 states. The chickens live in spacious barns, have access to outdoor pastures and are not given any antibiotics or hormones.
Johnson’s display included eggs of colors ranging from dark brown to pure white. “The color depends on the breed of the hens,” he said. “Some lay brown eggs, some lay white and some even lay a light greenish color.”
He said the color of the egg yolks depend on the hen’s diet. “The darker yolks have a bit more flavor,” he said.
Ann-Marie and Dana Aldrich represented their company, Simple-Goods, which is located in Clarion. They sell a line of scented aromatherapy products, including neck pillows, bracelets and oils. This was their first appearance at the Organic Farm Fest.
Ashley Troup and her sister Stephanie represented the Ole Mill Soap Company from Mazeppa in Union County. The sisters offer a line of goat milk soaps, lotions and beeswax lip balms, all available in various scents.
Blacksmith Bob Vernon, of Woodward, had his forge fired up and was making coat hooks from mild steel with the assistance of youngsters attending the Farm Fest. A hand-cranked blower kept the fire’s temperature high, making the metal red hot as Vernon’s young assistant formed it on an anvil.
On the live music stage, Danny Brumbaugh, from Rebersburg, entertained an appreciative crowd with his music which mimicked the “surf guitar” sound of artists such as Dick Dale, the Ventures and other groups popular in the early 1960s. Brumbaugh said he began playing piano at age 2, drums at age 8 and guitar at age 13. “That’s when I fell in love with the surf guitar sound, and decided I wanted to play like that,” he said.
The Ramalamas, an a cappella singing group, strolled the grounds, serenading and delighting visitors with their well-harmonized doo-wop music of the 1950s.
