Dear Neighbor,

The end of summer is always marked by two of our most quintessential Centre County events. On the heels of Penn State’s celebration of the 50th Annual Ag Progress Days at Rock Springs, comes the 152nd Annual Centre County Grange Fair. These events symbolize and showcase not only the proud traditions and agricultural heritage of our area but also the innovation and bright future of Pennsylvania’s #1 industry. As the proud representative of the College of Agriculture and Penn State Extension, I am always mindful of honoring and preserving our past, being a wise and responsible steward of our present, and always looking ahead and investing in the future of our farmers and rural communities.

As many people know, Penn State was originally founded as the Farmers High School of Pennsylvania in 1855 by the Pennsylvania State Legislature and quickly became one of the most prominent agricultural schools in the nation thanks to our first President Evan Pugh’s commitment to advancing and integrating the latest scientific approaches in agricultural education and research. Ag Progress Days embodies and continues that legacy of innovation and scientific spirit. Check out some amazing pictures from the 2026 event here!

During the week, I met with many forward-thinking entrepreneurs about the challenges and opportunities that our farmers face, from climate change to the cost of integrating new technologies and practices to make their operations more productive, prosperous, and sustainable. It was also a great setting to announce this year’s recipients of the highly competitive Agricultural Innovation Fund, a legislative program that I co-sponsored in 2024. Later in the newsletter you’ll find more about the projects funded in the 82nd District!

Founded less than 20 years after the Farmers High School, the Centre County Grange Fair was started by Leonard Rhone as an invitation to local Grange organizations to picnic together in 1874. That first gathering drew nearly 3,000 people and quickly became not only a social gathering, but a vital link between distant farms and communities. As the only remaining tent encampment event in the country, the Centre County Grange Fair still brings together generations of families and celebrates our shared history.

I encourage you to visit the last couple days of the “Grange” to spend time with friends and family, eat some delicious food and sweet treats, see the animals and exhibits, and enjoy the tradition. To learn more about the history of the Grange Fair, check out this article from The Centre County Historical Society.

Many of my House Democratic colleagues from across Pennsylvania also attended Ag Progress Days, so it was an ideal opportunity to organize a policy roundtable focused on addressing the housing affordability crisis in rural communities, including Centre County.  My gratitude to the College Township staff for hosting nearly a dozen legislators, and to the experts who attended and shared their insights on both the challenges and opportunities. Pennsylvania’s new Deputy Secretary for Housing, Kevin Bush, attended to share key points from Governor Shapiro’s Housing Action Plan, a first for our commonwealth.

The roundtable highlighted the unique circumstances of the more-than 2550 municipalities across Pennsylvania, each with different needs, zoning criteria, and other challenges. The testimony also emphasized that the housing crisis is not only a personal and quality of life issue for individuals and families, but is also a critical economic development issue, which in many cases is holding back economic growth and vitality. As a member of the PA Housing Caucus, I will continue to work to address these challenges and find sustainable solutions for this very complex and difficult problem.

The HOME Foundation (THF) is offering an Energy+ Program to help residents make their homes more energy efficient. These mini-grants support energy rehabilitation projects that improve a home's energy efficiency, reduce utility costs, lessen environmental impact, and enhance overall comfort.

Eligible homeowners may qualify for grants of up to $1,200. Find more information about the program and eligible projects here!

I’m very proud to announce the second round of grant awards for the Agricultural Innovation Fund, legislation I was the prime sponsor of in 2024! I’m pleased to share that two projects in Centre County received this extremely competitive funding this year.

Penn State has been awarded $129,800 to optimize its anaerobic digester to produce high-grade renewable natural gas, and Nyra Graham will receive $55,411 to support a precision agriculture system that will serve 15 farms across the county. These grants support innovative technology that helps local farms and ag businesses improve efficiency, increase production, protect our soil and water, and build a stronger agricultural future.

I'm also excited to share that our district recently received two grants through PennDOT’s Multimodal Transportation Fund. Planned upgrades and new infrastructure along Shiloh Road will contribute to making this key commercial and residential corridor safer and more accessible, even as traffic volumes increase.

Likewise, much needed roadway improvements along Unionville Pike, which is a critical transportation connector between the Centre Region and the Bald Eagle Valley, will make traveling this route safer and smoother for all drivers. Congratulations to Union and College Townships on these successful awards!