Penn State's 2026 Ag Progress Days marked the 50th anniversary of Rock Springs in Ferguson Township, Centre County, as its permanent site. The expo, held Aug. 11-13, featured demonstrations, activities and learning experiences highlighting Pennsylvania agriculture.
In photos: Ag Progress Days 2026
Pietro Bellitto, a visiting scholar working with Francesco Di Gioia, associate professor of vegetable crop science, pours nutrient solution into a hydroponic system used for growing microgreens such as pea shoots and baby greens such as arugula at an exhibit at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, held July 11-13. Nutrient solution is a water-based liquid mix of essential macro- and micronutrients used to feed plants in soilless or hydroponic systems. Credit: Michael Houtz / Penn State. Creative Commons
At the Ag Progress Days Town Hall session Aug. 11, Troy Ott, Peter and Ann Tombros Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, and Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding reflect on 50 years at Rock Springs and discuss the current state and future of Pennsylvania agriculture. Credit: Michael Houtz / Penn State. Creative Commons
The new Keystone AgTech Alliance was announced at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days. On hand for the announcement were, from left, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding; Melissa Barrick, agricultural specialist with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development; Troy Ott, Peter and Ann Tombros Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences; Abby Smith, president and chief executive officer of Team Pennsylvania; and Kevin Dowling, managing director of the Robotics Factory and Hardware Program at Innovation Works. The alliance’s collective goal is to make Pennsylvania the premier state for farmer-centered innovation, connecting real-world challenges with proven technology-based solutions. Credit: Michael Houtz / Penn State. Creative Commons
Charlie Andersen, chief executive officer of Burro, third from left, demonstrates one of his company’s products, an autonomous platform designed to work alongside people to force-multiply their work, during Penn State’s Ag Progress Days. With him, from left, are Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, Abby Smith, president and chief executive officer of Team Pennsylvania, and Troy Ott, Peter and Ann Tombros Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences. Credit: Michael Houtz / Penn State. Creative Commons
Mary Lewis, a Centre County Master Gardener, shows Johanna Ramos of Bellefonte how to use Tilva, Penn State Extension’s artificial-intelligence tool, at Ag Progress Days. Credit: Michael Houtz / Penn State. Creative Commons
Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi, second from left, learns about how artificial intelligence can be used for weed management in apple orchards from Lawrence Arthur, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. President Bendapudi was among those who participated in a research tour during Ag Progress Days. With her are Tara Mondock, director of college relations and communications, and Paul Heinemann, professor emeritus. Credit: Michael Houtz / Penn State. Creative Commons
Troy Ott, Peter and Ann Tombros Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, met with members of the college’s Agricultural Student Council during Ag Progress Days. From left are David Washabaugh, Addison Harpster, Dean Ott, Kara Brown, Jack Muldoon and Dakota Bush. Credit: Michael Houtz / Penn State. Creative Commons
The crowd on Main Street at Penn State’s 2026 Ag Progress Days. Credit: Jaydyn Isiminger / Penn State. All Rights Reserved.
An exhibit at this year’s event celebrated the 50th anniversary of Rock Springs as the permanent Ag Progress Days site. Credit: Michael Houtz / Penn State. Creative Commons
The latest in agricultural technology, research and equipment is front and center at Penn State's Ag Progress Days. Credit: Michael Owen / Penn State. Creative Commons
Jeffrey Muthler holds his granddaughter, Ella Tingle, as she pets a horse at the 2026 Ag Progress Days. Credit: Provided. All Rights Reserved.
Pietro Bellitto, a visiting scholar working with Francesco Di Gioia, associate professor of vegetable crop science, pours nutrient solution into a hydroponic system used for growing microgreens such as pea shoots and baby greens such as arugula at an exhibit at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, held July 11-13. Nutrient solution is a water-based liquid mix of essential macro- and micronutrients used to feed plants in soilless or hydroponic systems. Credit: Michael Houtz / Penn State. Creative Commons
At the Ag Progress Days Town Hall session Aug. 11, Troy Ott, Peter and Ann Tombros Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, and Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding reflect on 50 years at Rock Springs and discuss the current state and future of Pennsylvania agriculture. Credit: Michael Houtz / Penn State. Creative Commons
The new Keystone AgTech Alliance was announced at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days. On hand for the announcement were, from left, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding; Melissa Barrick, agricultural specialist with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development; Troy Ott, Peter and Ann Tombros Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences; Abby Smith, president and chief executive officer of Team Pennsylvania; and Kevin Dowling, managing director of the Robotics Factory and Hardware Program at Innovation Works. The alliance’s collective goal is to make Pennsylvania the premier state for farmer-centered innovation, connecting real-world challenges with proven technology-based solutions. Credit: Michael Houtz / Penn State. Creative Commons
Charlie Andersen, chief executive officer of Burro, third from left, demonstrates one of his company’s products, an autonomous platform designed to work alongside people to force-multiply their work, during Penn State’s Ag Progress Days. With him, from left, are Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, Abby Smith, president and chief executive officer of Team Pennsylvania, and Troy Ott, Peter and Ann Tombros Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences. Credit: Michael Houtz / Penn State. Creative Commons
Mary Lewis, a Centre County Master Gardener, shows Johanna Ramos of Bellefonte how to use Tilva, Penn State Extension’s artificial-intelligence tool, at Ag Progress Days. Credit: Michael Houtz / Penn State. Creative Commons
Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi, second from left, learns about how artificial intelligence can be used for weed management in apple orchards from Lawrence Arthur, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. President Bendapudi was among those who participated in a research tour during Ag Progress Days. With her are Tara Mondock, director of college relations and communications, and Paul Heinemann, professor emeritus. Credit: Michael Houtz / Penn State. Creative Commons
Troy Ott, Peter and Ann Tombros Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, met with members of the college’s Agricultural Student Council during Ag Progress Days. From left are David Washabaugh, Addison Harpster, Dean Ott, Kara Brown, Jack Muldoon and Dakota Bush. Credit: Michael Houtz / Penn State. Creative Commons
The crowd on Main Street at Penn State’s 2026 Ag Progress Days. Credit: Jaydyn Isiminger / Penn State. All Rights Reserved.
An exhibit at this year’s event celebrated the 50th anniversary of Rock Springs as the permanent Ag Progress Days site. Credit: Michael Houtz / Penn State. Creative Commons
The latest in agricultural technology, research and equipment is front and center at Penn State's Ag Progress Days. Credit: Michael Owen / Penn State. Creative Commons
Jeffrey Muthler holds his granddaughter, Ella Tingle, as she pets a horse at the 2026 Ag Progress Days. Credit: Provided. All Rights Reserved.
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