June 2021 Issue

Page 18 June 2021 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN BLACK’S LIVESTOCK -The Next Pasture - Where the grass is always green, lush & stirrup high Individual Horse & Pet Cremation Standard Mortality 24 hour service available John E. Black: 610.220.5262 Matthew Hoffman: 610.656.3258 Office: 610.584.4482 Fax: 610.584.9111 BLACK’S LIVESTOCK P.O. Box 662 Skippack, PA 19472 www.nextpasture.com Don't Miss the July Issue of East Coast Equestrian! To advertise or for more information, please contact Phyllis or Debbie at (717) 509-9800 eastcoastequestrian.net With our Annual Special Feature on Trailers &Transport Deadline: June 11 It’s important to keep the strands of this story separate, because when they’re tangled, they distort the picture and create misunderstanding. “The storage of PPE is in no way related to the cancellation of events,” Shannon Powers ex- plains. “It never was. Through- out the pandemic, events at the Farm Show Complex & Expo Center have been placed on hold for health and safety reasons.” Powers is the Press Secretary at the Department of Agriculture. She says that the Department of General Services has indeed requested a $5 million appropri- ation to fund the move. Powers notes that the PPE is a critical strategic asset for the state, and its security is para- mount. The Complex is centrally located, has 24-hour security and ensures that the Federal supplies are appropriately and adequately protected. While there have been pictures showing the storage of some of the PPE, these have not been authorized by the govern- ment. “Photographs published in various media outlets were not provided or authorized by the PA Department of Agriculture.” The Shows Will Go On “The Department of Agricul- ture’s Farm Show management team is working with organizers of previously scheduled events to confirm dates and specific locations in the complex,” Pow- ers says. “Those that are firmly scheduled include the US Jr. Na- tional Basketball Tournament the last weekend of June and PA Fla- vor on August 21. Both will take place in the GIANT Expo Hall. The complex is hosting outdoor events weekly throughout the spring, summer and fall, includ- ing the PA Open Air Farm Market every Tuesday and Friday.” Susie Shirk, Executive Direc- tor of the Pennsylvania National Horse Show (PNHS) Foundation, says her organization is planning for the 75th Anniversary show to go on as scheduled in October. “We’ve been assured that the Farm Show Complex is going to be open,” she says. “Anything could change at any moment.” Asked about the mountains of PPE stored at the Complex, Shirk says they’re not worried. “We only use certain halls and certain areas of that facility,” she explains. “I’ve been working directly with Sharon (Myers, Executive Director of the Farm Show Complex) and hearing information coming from the Department of Agriculture.” The PNHS, she says, is re- quired to abide by the regulations of the state as well as the United States Equestrian Foundation (USEF). “We’ve been watching what the Governor is allowing in the state. We have to follow the regulations and protocols of the state and USEF. They’ve relaxed some of their protocols.”All this adds weight to the level of confidence she has about this year’s show. (Continued from page 15) (Continued on page 23) Packed with the State’s PPE, the Farm Show Complex Plans to Reopen