Penn College to Offer Activities Throughout Farm Show

Pennsylvania College of Technology will host a variety of activities at the 2009 Pennsylvania Farm Show, to be held in Harrisburg Jan. 10-17.

Throughout the day Saturday, Jan. 10, the college's School of Transportation Technology will offer demonstrations and hands-on activities in automotive, aviation and collision repair. Visitors may help construct a fuel-cell powered model vehicle, and instructors will demonstrate a model experimental Velocity aircraft, as well as masking, pinstriping and wire body-damage analysis.

On Sunday, Jan. 11, the Penn College Alumni Association will host a breakfast in the Farm Show VIP Room at 9 a.m. Reservations are required.

In addition, students and faculty from the college's School of Hospitality will be among those who will demonstrate their techniques on the Culinary Connection stage at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. The students will also assist celebrity chefs on stage throughout the day. Sunday's lineup includes television personalities Chris Cognac, host of Food Network's "Hungry Detective;" Richard Blais, a contestant on "Iron Chef America" and "Top Chef;" and Louisa Chu, chef, culinary journalist and correspondent on PBS's "Diary of a Foodie," as well as Pennsylvania chefs Michael Davis, executive chef at Matthews Trattoria, Erie; John L. Payne Jr., executive chef at 2201 in The Boro, Camp Hill; and Matthew Revak, executive chef at The Inn at Turkey Hill, Bloomsburg.

At the Penn College booth, Chef Paul Mach, assistant professor of hospitality management/culinary arts and "You're the Chef" television series co-host, will offer a cooking demonstration.

On Monday, Jan. 12, the School of Natural Resources Management will offer an interactive forestry display and demonstration of failed engine parts at the Penn College booth.

At 3 and 5 p.m., School of Hospitality students will offer demonstrations on the Culinary Connection stage. They will also assist Pennsylvania chefs who appear on stage. Offering demonstrations will be Kathy Wickert, and Brandi Pratt, chefs at the Camp Hill Giant Super Food Store; and Bill Scepansky, corporate chef, Four Seasons Produce Inc.

On Tuesday, Jan. 13, the School of Integrated Studies will offer a hands-on printing activity using sublimation dyes, which can be permanently heat-transferred to T-shirts, hats, mugs, metals, puzzles and other surfaces.

On Wednesday, Jan. 14, the School of Health Sciences will offer a variety of activities. Representatives of the physical fitness specialist major will help visitors try various types of health and fitness equipment including balance boards, a Bosu ball, blood-pressure cuffs and a hand-held body composition analyzer. Visitors can learn about the career of a surgical technologist by trying their skills at an appendectomy or laparotomy using models and actual surgical instruments. Join nursing representatives to listen to lifelike heart and lung sounds on a computerized manikin.

On Thursday, Jan. 15, the School of Construction and Design Technologies will offer information about careers and opportunities in the construction industry and will help visitors build toolboxes to take home.

On Friday, Jan. 16, the School of Industrial and Engineering Technologies will offer a variety of activities. Visitors may design a sign using plastics thermoforming technology or participate in an interactive robotic demonstration.

On Saturday, Jan. 17, faculty from the School of Business and Computer Technologies will demonstrate consumer applications of information technology and explain why IT serves such a central role in society.

Penn College Admissions and Alumni Relations Office representatives will be available throughout the week.

For more detailed information about Penn College's 2009 Pennsylvania Farm Show activities, visit online.

For more information about Penn College's academic majors, representing more than 100 different career fields, visit on the Web, e-mail or call toll-free (800) 367-9222.