By Clinton Martin
For many, many years, people all over Pennsylvania have looked forward to slurping delicious, rich, creamy, and satisfying milkshakes at the PA Farm Show, an annual January tradition in the State’s capital, Harrisburg – at the expo center literally named for the event… the Farm Show Complex.
People would count down the weeks until they could get up to Harrisburg (braving “farm show weather”) to grab their annual dairy treat. Well, today the PA Dairymen’s Association, the maker of these famous milkshakes, has traveling treat trucks that spread throughout the State, throughout the year, to bring these famous beverages to their appreciative fans.
The PA Dairymen’s Association traces its roots back to 1871, though the milkshakes themselves weren’t whipped up for the first time until 1953. Visitors to Amish Country who wish to try a Farm Show Milkshake can look up where the mobile milkshake trucks will be by referencing https://www.padairymens.com/milkshakes-on-the-moo-ve/ or by following the PA Dairymen’s Association on social media platforms.
For America’s 250th birthday (2026) the Association developed new flavors, red (strawberry), white (vanilla), and blue (raspberry) and other flavors are occasionally available as special pop-up varieties. Money made from selling the milkshakes is used by the association to sponsor agricultural scholarships, fund hunger prevention programs, FFA chapters, various other educational and agricultural programs statewide.
The dairy industry is very important to Pennsylvania. There are nearly 5,000 dairy farms in PA (second in the Nation.) 99% of PA Dairy farms are family-owned. More than a third of PA’s dairy farms are in Lancaster County (many of which are Amish, Mennonite, and other Plain-Sect owned.)