Pennsylvania Agriculture’s Progress and Promise on Display
Team Pennsylvania’s Agriculture Director Reflects on 2025 Ag Progress Days
by Kelly Kundratic
For decades, American agriculture’s goals were straightforward: produce enough food, fuel, and fiber to supply a growing world. Over time, those goals have expanded. Today, there is also a strive to strengthen farm and rural economies, provide healthier food, protect our natural resources, and support vibrant communities.
Yet, as society becomes more removed from the source of our food and the people who grow it, it can be easy to lose sight of the effort, innovation, and collaboration that make these goals possible. For me, progress in agriculture is both visible and invisible. It shows up in technology and science, but also in relationships and shared purpose. And last week, that was on full display at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days.
The name says it all. For nearly 170 years, Penn State University, as Pennsylvania’s land-grant institution, has advanced agricultural science, education, and extension. Each August, Ag Progress Days becomes a living showcase of that work: 400+ exhibitors, demonstrations, field tours, research exhibits, presentations, and countless conversations that remind us of where agriculture has been, where it is now, and where it’s headed.
Sitting back at home in York County, one of Pennsylvania’s most productive farm counties, you don’t have to look far to see how that progress touches every daily life. The crops surrounding my home are the result of generations of selective breeding to thrive in this soil and climate. I see active conservation practices at work, protecting water and wildlife. A nearby field will soon be cover-cropped, resting and regenerating as part of science-backed sustainable soil management. Just beyond that, some grazing beef cattle. Even our family garden reflects Penn State’s innovation—the “Valentine tomato,” an award-winning grape tomato variety developed by plant scientist Dr. Majid Foolad, has become a favorite for my family and our chickens.
These are tangible signs of progress. But there’s also the intangible: the people and the partnerships. Agriculture moves forward because of connections and leaders who share a commitment to the future.
It’s why I’m so proud of the role my organization, Team Pennsylvania, plays throughout the year, including at Ag Progress Days. This year, we organized a networking event that connected leaders across agriculture’s industries, robotics and AI experts, government, and academia. Posters around the room highlighted findings from the 2025 Pennsylvania Agriculture Economic Impact Analysis, sparking intentional conversations about what the last decade of data might reveal about the road ahead. Our President & CEO, Abby Smith, offered remarks alongside Dean Troy Ott of Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Secretary Russell Redding. Together, they reminded us that progress requires both reflection and forward vision, and it comes to life through collaboration. Special thanks to my colleagues Lisa Riggs, Tom Murphy, and Julia Kait, who brought their time, talents, and expertise to the event. From panel discussions to strategic conversations, they ensured that Team PA was not just present but actively engaged in the progress. Thank you!
Spending three days in the summer sun with thousands of people (and some animals) may not sound like “progress” at first glance. But to me, it is exactly that. Ag Progress Days reminds us how far agriculture has come and inspires us to imagine what comes next.
Each year, I leave Centre County with a deeper appreciation for the many forms of progress that surround us, whether in the field, in the lab, or the connections among people committed to agriculture’s future. I look forward to gathering again at Ag Progress Days next year, and I hope to see you there.
If you’d like to keep up with Team Pennsylvania and play a role in advancing agriculture, consider joining the Advanced Agriculture Collaborative, subscribing to our monthly newsletter, The Advance, or supporting our work.