Dairymens

Mushroom Farmers

Alpacas

Maple Syrup

Dairy Princess

Secretary Russell Redding

This episode includes all of our segments from Wednesday and Thursday this week from the 2026 Farm Show. All you need to know all in one place!

Featured this year is:

Dairymen's Executive Director Dave Smith

Committee Member of The Mushroom Farmers of PA, managing the Farm Show booth Gale Ferranto

President of PA alpaca owners and breeders' association- owner Crimson Skye Farm Karen Nace

Northwest Maple Association Member Laura Dengler

Bradford County Dairy Princess Sophia Tice

and finally

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding

This episode includes all of our segments from Wednesday and Thursday this week from the 2026 Farm Show. All you need to know all in one place!
Featured this year is:
Dairymen's Executive Director Dave Smith
Committee Member of The Mushroom Farmers of PA, managing the Farm Show booth Gale Ferranto
President of PA alpaca owners and breeders' association- owner Crimson Skye Farm Karen Nace
Northwest Maple Association Member Laura Dengler
Bradford County Dairy Princess Sophia Tice
and finally
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb starts conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb starts conversations about what&rsquo;s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

The Spark

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb start the conversations about what&rsquo;s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at&nbsp;<a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

The Spark Weekly: The 2026 Farm Show 

Journalist Roundtable

Nursery Rhymes

(00:00:00)

First, Mi Xian and Mark Fazollah of Spotlight PA join us to discuss their reporting on undercounted and misreported rapes in the State College area. Their investigation reveals how gaps in data, institutional practices, and reporting systems can obscure the reality of sexual violence. They walk us through what they uncovered, why these discrepancies matter, and how communities are affected when the numbers meant to protect them fall short.

(00:22:21)

Then, we shift from modern reporting failures to the deep past with Chrissie Senecal, historian at Shippensburg University, for a journey into the origins and evolution of nursery rhymes. Chrissie explores how many familiar rhymes trace back to medieval Europe, shaped by the politics, fears, humor, and social tensions of their time. We dig into the “dark” or hidden meanings encoded in rhyme and rhythm, how these verses transformed from adult commentary to children’s entertainment, and why they’ve endured for centuries.

(00:00:00)
First, Mi Xian and Mark Fazollah of Spotlight PA join us to discuss their reporting on undercounted and misreported rapes in the State College area. Their investigation reveals how gaps in data, institutional practices, and reporting systems can obscure the reality of sexual violence. They walk us through what they uncovered, why these discrepancies matter, and how communities are affected when the numbers meant to protect them fall short.
(00:22:21)
Then, we shift from modern reporting failures to the deep past with Chrissie Senecal, historian at Shippensburg University, for a journey into the origins and evolution of nursery rhymes. Chrissie explores how many familiar rhymes trace back to medieval Europe, shaped by the politics, fears, humor, and social tensions of their time. We dig into the &ldquo;dark&rdquo; or hidden meanings encoded in rhyme and rhythm, how these verses transformed from adult commentary to children&rsquo;s entertainment, and why they&rsquo;ve endured for centuries.

From Hidden Harm to Hidden Meanings: Journalist Roundtable and The Dark History of Nursery Rhymes

Sophia Tice

Russell Redding

(00:00:00)

That uncertainty became real last fall, when cases of Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) were confirmed in horses across Northumberland, Columbia, and Lancaster counties. With the virus spreading easily through direct contact, airborne droplets, and contaminated equipment, officials made the difficult call to cancel all equine‑related events at this year’s show. While EHM is serious, the Equine Disease Communication Center notes that 60–70% of affected horses recover with intensive veterinary care, offering hope amid concern.

(00:22:15)

The 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show arrives with its signature mix of tradition, agriculture, and community pride, but also with unprecedented challenges. In this episode, we sit down with Bradford County Dairy Princess Sophia Tice, whose passion for dairy education and advocacy brings a fresh, youthful voice to the state’s largest agricultural event. Sophia shares her journey, her mission to connect consumers with farmers, and what it means to represent Pennsylvania’s dairy industry on such a big stage.

(00:30:36)

We also speak with Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, who offers insight into the decisions, pressures, and priorities shaping this year’s Farm Show. From supporting producers to navigating public health concerns, Secretary Redding reflects on the resilience of Pennsylvania agriculture and the responsibility of leading through uncertainty.

 

(00:00:00)
That uncertainty became real last fall, when cases of&nbsp;Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) were confirmed in horses across Northumberland, Columbia, and Lancaster counties. With the virus spreading easily through direct contact, airborne droplets, and contaminated equipment, officials made the difficult call to cancel all equine‑related events at this year&rsquo;s show. While EHM is serious, the Equine Disease Communication Center notes that 60&ndash;70% of affected horses recover with intensive veterinary care, offering hope amid concern.
(00:22:15)
The 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show arrives with its signature mix of tradition, agriculture, and community pride, but also with unprecedented challenges. In this episode, we sit down with Bradford County Dairy Princess Sophia Tice, whose passion for dairy education and advocacy brings a fresh, youthful voice to the state&rsquo;s largest agricultural event. Sophia shares her journey, her mission to connect consumers with farmers, and what it means to represent Pennsylvania&rsquo;s dairy industry on such a big stage.
(00:30:36)
We also speak with Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, who offers insight into the decisions, pressures, and priorities shaping this year&rsquo;s Farm Show. From supporting producers to navigating public health concerns, Secretary Redding reflects on the resilience of Pennsylvania agriculture and the responsibility of leading through uncertainty.
&nbsp;

Milk, Management, and Mitigating Disease: Conversations in PA Agriculture

Dairymen's

The Spark went on a field trip to the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show!

In this episode, you will hear the first half of interviews from our time at the farm show, with more to come tomorrow.

Featured in today's episode is:

(00:00:00)

Dairymen's Executive Director Dave Smith

(00:13:18)

Committee Member of The Mushroom Farmers of PA Gale Ferranto

(00:23:11)

President of PA Alpaca Owners and Breeders' Association and Owner Crimson Skye Farm Karen Nace

(00:32:37)

and Northwest Maple Association Member Laura Dengler

The Spark went on a field trip to the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show!
In this episode, you will hear the first half of interviews from our time at the farm show, with more to come tomorrow.
Featured in today's episode is:
(00:00:00)
Dairymen's Executive Director Dave Smith
(00:13:18)
Committee Member of The Mushroom Farmers of PA Gale Ferranto
(00:23:11)
President of PA Alpaca Owners and Breeders' Association and Owner Crimson Skye Farm Karen Nace
(00:32:37)
and Northwest Maple Association Member Laura Dengler

The Spark Weekly: The 2026 Farm Show

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