Supporters of the state’s agriculture industry will gather at the state Capitol for the Fourth Annual Blessing of the Balers, according to an announcement on Apr. 28. The event is hosted by Pennsylvania State Representative Bud Cook and aims to highlight agriculture as a leading industry in the state while marking May as Beef Month.
The ceremony is expected to draw attention from a wide range of agricultural organizations, including members of the Pennsylvania Livestock Association, Pennsylvania Beef Council, Center for Beef Excellence, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and PennAG. Tractors and balers will be present at the event, which takes place on Tuesday, May 5 with remarks scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m.
Speakers will include Cook; Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding; Rev. Donald Wilson of Greene County; and Bill Devore, president of the Pennsylvania Cattlemen’s Association. “Those planning on attending the ceremony can .” In addition to those attending in person behind the Capitol building in Harrisburg on Commonwealth Avenue, media who cannot attend may view a livestream via Cook’s website or his Facebook page.
Cook leads initiatives such as ‘Come Home, Go Big and Have a Ball’ designed to attract residents to southwestern Pennsylvania according to his official website. He serves as Republican secretary to the Agriculture Committee and chairs its Republican Subcommittee on Marketing within the Tourism Committee according to his official website. Cook represents Greene and Washington counties according to his official website.
He also serves on several committees including Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Environmental Resources and Energy; and Tourism and Economic & Recreational Development according to his official website. As noted by his office, Cook holds office as State Representative for Pennsylvania’s 50th Legislative District according to his official website.
Cook operates as a self-employed business owner with more than three decades’ experience in job creation according to his official website. The annual Blessing of the Balers event underscores ongoing efforts by local leaders like Cook who are engaged both in legislative work related to agriculture policy and broader economic development.
