Battle Lines The Official Newsletter of the Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association

Spring 2007

Pioneering the PA Farm Show

....by Jay Purdy

Testing another avenue of outreach, in January the GBPA made its first appearance at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. Key to getting the double-size display area was being able to provide the Family Living area with a program for one of its two stages, and thanks to two of the groups that have been loyal supporters of the Daniel Lady Farm; we gave the Farm Show people three times what was needed.

For those not familiar with the Pennsylvania Farm Show, it’s the Commonwealth’s equivalent of the summertime and fall state fairs in other states. Tens of thousands of people attend daily during the 8-day run. While military members of the 88th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry put on a display at the booth, the civilians took over the stage with a fashion show. Later in the week, the 88th came forward again with displays and a stage presentation by the medical staff. To top off the week, the Victorian Dance Ensemble took over the main stage with several presentations of Civil War-era dance.

We learned a lot at this inaugural appearance especially that the display is the thing. We never had more interest than when the 88th had its displays laid out, much of it authentic, from ladies’ fashion accessories to military accoutrements and medical and dental equipment. Kids were especially drawn to holding the 5 lb. Confederate solid shot provided by Craig Caba. We made sure they held it over the table so there would be no broken toes. This ability to touch artifacts was especially attractive to passersby stop at the booth as an icebreaker to initiate conversation.

We gave out hundreds of information and membership flyers about the GBPA and the Daniel Lady Farm; hopefully we’ll get some returns. We also had several people tell us they had participated in one or more of the A.B.A.T.E. Rides for the Monuments that benefits the farm and the Pennsylvania Gettysburg Monuments Project.

By all appearances, everyone who put in time on stage or at the booth (or both) thoroughly enjoyed themselves as the imparted insight into the legacy of Gettysburg and the Daniel Lady Farm. Hopefully, we won’t miss anybody as we name volunteers from those groups who came at least twice to help out; Neil and Kathi Coddington, Paul Foust, Bob Packard, Larry and Annette Keener-Farley, Craig and Sherry Caba, and Barb Mowery. Plans are to participate in next year’s Farm Show with presentations that reflect what we learned from our first engagement.

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