Photo credit: PA Department of Agriculture
The reopening date for the Pennsylvania Farm Show and Expo Center complex is still uncertain, but when it’s deemed safe to return, equine events will benefit from a multi-million renovation.
The 90-year-old complex, with its maze of corridors, interlocking buildings, sprawling exhibit spaces and two large arenas, is undergoing a $21 million improvement project scheduled to be completed by the summer.
“These improvements will benefit all events, but there are a few that will be particularly beneficial to equine and equestrian events,” said Shannon Powers, spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, which oversees operations at the complex. “During the pandemic, more staff time has been devoted to completing the capital improvement projects, as well as other improvements that have been difficult to complete under normal circumstances.”
All events at the Farm Show complex were cancelled following the COVID-19 statewide shutdown in mid-March 2020. That meant some of the biggest equestrian events in the region had to relocate or cancel in the summer and fall of 2020 and into early 2021, including the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, the Horse World Expo, Keystone International Livestock Expo, and other hunter/jumper shows and rodeos.
The original Art Deco designed complex was showing its age in recent years. Peeling paint and worn in grime were more noticeable, horse stalls needed constant repair, arenas were dusty and the sound system was poor, equine show organizers said.
“It’s an old facility, but it was unique and had character,” said Susie Webb, executive director of the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. “We’re excited to get in and see what it looks like now.”
Among the major changes to the Farm Show complex aimed at improving equine events:
- Better ventilation in the newer Equine Arena. Permanent exhaust fans have replaced temporary fans used during events.
- New overhead doors installed, including those leading into the Equine Arena.
- Fencing installed around outdoor exercise areas behind the complex.
- New horse stalls have been purchased.
- Energy-efficient, brighter LED lighting has been added in halls.
- A new sound system was installed to improve sound quality in the arenas.
- Parking lots have been resurfaced and expanded, including more space for trailers and better drainage in lots.
Many of the changes won’t be visible to visitors, but will improve the safety of the facility for humans and animals, such as asbestos removal and upgrades to HVAC systems, fire alarms and electrical panels.
Powers said renovations are being made with disease prevention in mind and are following “rigorous” new protocols put forth by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council, which helps organizations and businesses prepare for, respond to, and recover from biological threats, and biohazard situations.
“Biosecurity has always been a top consideration in planning for animal events at the Farm Show Complex and Expo Center,” she said. “We take extensive precautions to prevent the spread of animal disease and these precautions are heightened when there are known instances of zoonotic disease in the region and that may be brought into the region by visitors.”
With the initial uncertainty about how long the pandemic would last, the Pennsylvania National Horse Show was forced to scramble and find a new host site within months of the October event, landing at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in North Carolina. Organizers though, learned quickly that having a roof is important no matter the season.
“The day of the Medal finals it poured all day,” said Webb. “The schooling ring was outside and everyone was back and forth all day in the pouring rain. We never thought we’d say we missed the Farm Show.”
The Pennsylvania National Horse Show, is moving forward with plans to return this October and celebrate its 75th anniversary, originally scheduled in 2020.
Webb said they plan to add the newer Equine Arena as a second competition ring so the ventilation improvement is “huge.”
Denise Parsons, president of Equestrian Promotions which operates the Horse World Expo, said she welcomes the improvements.
The Expo, which draws 350 vendors and tens of thousands of visitors over four days every March, was one of the last events held at the Farm Show before the nationwide COVID shutdown in 2020.
“The ventilation would help with stuffiness,” she said. “Better temperature regulation would help keep temperatures from fluctuating.”
Parsons said the portable stalls were “getting pretty tired” and were prone to breaking and needing repairs during the event.
She said new lighting will be a “big positive” for vendors and a new sound system would mean the Expo would no longer have the costly expense of bringing in its own sound for Theatre Equus performances.
Meanwhile, organizers are expecting horse events to return this fall and plans are already underway for Horse World Expo 2022.
“We still don’t know what will happen in fall, but it’s full steam ahead,” Webb said.
For her part, Parsons said she has the Horse World Expo dates reserved for 2022:
“We hope we’re back to normal.”