I read the Detroit Free Press pretty much every day now, though I am now living in Pennsylvania. I grew up on The Freep. My Dad used to read it every day. Matter of fact, he read two newpapers daily. The Freep, and The Herald-Palladium, which is a Benton Harbor daily. On Sundays, we would get the South Bend Tribune, and the Free Press. I grew up with the news on and in my head.
So I still am in that habit. And something about the goings on in Michigan are disturbing to me. It is very reminiscent of an old Limp Bizkit song.
Seems that folks are doing a lot of finger pointing when it comes to the Big 3 Auto Makers. Some blame Management, some blame the UAW, some blame the foreign car companies, some blame the states for buying manufacturers. Lots of blame going around. But not a whole lot of trying to figure out what the heck to do to correct the situation.
If the Big 3 go under 2.5 to 3 million auto workers, and supply company workers are out of work. Is that part of a free market system, to let the rotten fruit fall ? Yeah, but is it in the interests of the rest of the country? Hmmm. Does management need to trim their excesses? Yeah. Does the UAW need to give some also? Yeah. Will that piss everyone off? Oh yeah. We still have this “This stuff is mine, keep your hands off of it” mentality going on.
What is the solution? Can’t tell you. Though I can suggest that we need to get beyond the “he said, she said bull@%&*” before we can get to that solution.
There are times I envision myself as Animal from the Muppets.
Though I don’t play the drums. Not even when we play “Rock Band” on the Wii. The drums are not for me. But I do identify with Animal.
For those of you not familiar to Pennsylvania, in January we have a event called The Pennsylvania Farm Show. The Farm Show is considered to be the largest agricultural event held in the United States. It has been held every January since 1917.
The 2009 Pennsylvania Farm Show will run from January 10th through the 17th. Keeping Pennsylvania Growing is this years theme.
Ok. That is nice. But what about the important part? The food court. Yeah, I am all about the food court. Have to hit:
PA Cooperative Potato Growers, Inc. – This is the oldest Potato Cooperative in the United States, chartered in 1922. The money raised during Farm Show week helps to support the marketing and promotion of PA potatoes. Monies are also used to pay dues for PA growers to belong to National Potato organizations; fund research projects, and promotional opportunities for PA growers.
Products for Sale: baked potatoes, fresh cut French fries, potato donuts, potatoes and baked sweet potatoes.
Love them fries.
Then on to:
PA Dairymen’s Association – This organization is a service organization that provides scholarships, youth programs, and agricultural education programs across the Commonwealth. They also maintain the milk house facilities located in the Farm Show Complex. The Dairymen rely on the annual Pennsylvania Farm Show to fund their activities.
Products for Sale: milkshakes, milk/chocolate milk, ice cream sundaes, deep fried mozzarella cubes with marinara sauce and ice cream cones
Do yourself a favor, get the vanilla shake. It is wonderful.
Next:
PA Mushroom Growers Cooperative – This organization gives its proceeds to the American Mushroom Institute, which conducts research and supports mushroom growers throughout the United States.
Products for Sale: deep-fried breaded mushrooms, packaged fresh mushrooms and portabellos, mushroom soup, grilled portabellas, grilled portabella sandwich, mushroom salad and schroomies
My family hates mushrooms. They are closet communists. Deep fried ‘srooms are wonderful, the grilled portabella is to die for.
Moving on, ok, waddling on:
Penn Ag Industries Assoc./Penn Ag Poultry Council & Penn Ag Aquaculture Council. -
Products for Sale: fish sandwich, trout chowder and tortilla crusted tilapia, fresh bagels w/or w/o cream cheese, cinnamon sticky bun, shoofly pie by the slice or whole pies, whoopie pies with white or peanut butter icing, large cookies and cinnamon bun
The fish sandwiches here are absolutely delicious. And the tortilla crusted tilapia is something that I am going to have to save room for.
Can someone get me a gurney? Keep moving:
State Horticultural Association – the SHAP booth at the Farm Show is committed to raising money for the apple and fruit tree industry. One of the major benefactors of our booth is the fruit research lab in Biglerville. The center is committed to development of new knowledge and education necessary to lead and support the successful transition of the industry to new production systems and markets. The fruit centers infrastructure transformation through orchard replanting into new production systems, equipment technology development and laboratory renovations will continue to allow our field to grow and address the changes that need to be made for the future fruit farmers to thrive in Pennsylvania.
Products for Sale: apple cider, fresh apples, apple dumplings with ice cream, apple butter, cider floats, caramel apples on a stick, dried apple snacks, and apple or peach sundaes.
Apple dumplings. With ice cream. Oh. My. God.
I am done. But one last stop, back to pick up a dozen potato donuts. Get some frosted, and some plain. You won’t be sorry.
Dieting starts after the Farm Show in Central Pennsylvania. See you at the gym on the 18th.
