The 96th Pennsylvania Farm Show is on track for Jan. 7 through Jan. 14 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg.

The eight-day show, the largest indoor agricultural exhibition in the nation, will feature 6,000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits and 300 commercial exhibitors – including draft horses, beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, swine, goats, rabbits and poultry, eggs, fruit, trees, apiary products, maple products, nuts, horticultural products, mushrooms, wine, vegetables and many other products. The celebrity draft horse team driving is Tuesday, Jan. 10. VIP dairy showmanship contest, Wednesday, Jan. 11. Admission is free; parking, $10.

Two performances of the Pennsylvania High School Rodeo Association-sanctioned rodeo open the show. Square dance contests, carriage racing, a tractor square dance (!), plus an equine showcase and many other offerings round out this winter event.

“The Pennsylvania Farm Show provides a unique opportunity to showcase the great work being done by the state's more than 63,000 farm families to produce quality and safe agricultural products,” said Agriculture Secretary George Greig.

An interesting new feature for the show is a butterfly house where visitors can see and learn about butterflies for a small entrance fee; proceeds support the Friends of Farm Show Foundation. Also popular with families is the “Farm Show Detectives” program that offers young visitors a way to investigate Pennsylvania agriculture by visiting 22 learning stations around the complex.

Visiting other venues around the country – or just a town away – can provide fresh ideas.

Cozy nooks and knowledgeable people – plus more than 500,000 books abound at all three locations of The Book Barn in Niantic, Conn. The main barn is chock-full of natural history, guides, classics, fiction, history, biographies and a calm atmosphere – even free coffee and cookies. Check out the staff picks near the entrance. The Book Barn Downtown has nautical themes, cookbooks, theater/movies – oh so much more to browse or bring home.

At the Book Barn Midtown (around the corner from the downtown store) are the crafts, knitting, art, architecture – and a whole room for children's books. Look for the cats who curl up in the most unlikely spots at the first two locations. Donations of cat food to help homeless critters were being collected over the holidays; call ahead for details. If you are culling books from your own collection ask about stipulations for cash or store credit. Sometimes they move things around, so it's a good idea to pick up a map (yes, a map) of which subjects are shelved where. Ask for one at the main barn.

University of Connecticut Department of Animal Science is offering a three-week winter horse riding program open to UConn faculty, staff, and students. Lessons begin on Jan. 3. More information available at www.animalscience.uconn.edu/Documents/winterriding2012.pdf or call Alena Meacham at (860) 377-3779 for details or their other programs throughout the year that are open to the public.

Hear ye, hear ye, the Northeastern Poultry Congress annual poultry show will be in session at the Mallory Complex of the Eastern States Exposition Center, in West Springfield, Mass.

Turkeys to waterfowl, bantams and many other breeds will show their stuff in junior exhibitor and showmanship competitions. For 2011 the super grand champion was a white Wyandotte pullet shown by Rick Hare.

The show is open to the public on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Admission is free. Visitors are always welcome and there is always a great selection of quality stock for sale at the show – for best selection, plan to arrive early on Saturday.

Note: Last – but not least – a new calendar for a new year. Whittled it down to three – draft horse, mule (!), and driving horses – all available from My Draft Horse Super Store “Everything Your Draft Horse Needs … But Feed.” These folks have harnesses, supplies and other useful items. Now to make the choice of which to enjoy all year long . . .