The 94th annual Pennsylvania Farm Show is a nonstop assault on the senses.

Visitors to the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg can hear the sounds of animals on display, the cries of vendors, overhead announcements of show results and the delighted shrieks of children enjoying the day.

There are smells, of course, some mouth-watering, especially in the food courts and culinary demonstration areas, and some eye-watering, particularly among the animal stalls. (Be careful where you place your feet, or some smells could follow you home.)

And then there are the sights. Champion animals, up close and personal. Stuffed pigs and cows, clutched tightly by wide-eyed children a little too intimidated to stand close to the real things. Throngs of people in cowboy hats, cardboard hats and John Deere caps pulled low over their eyes, many waving peacock feathers and sipping Farm Show milkshakes and parading through a countless array of exhibits aimed at capturing the attention of passersby.

It's a showcase of Pennsylvania's long, proud agriculture tradition, and this past weekend was only the start of a weeklong frenzy of competing, eating and excitement for all ages.

VIDEO: Countian takes 2nd in lamb competition

"I like to see the animals," Madeline Groff of Akron, who said she is "6, almost 7," said Sunday. "Probably the cows are the best. They're soft."

Madeline was there with grandparents Bob and Marlene Groff of Leola, retired farmers who "like to keep their feet in" by visiting the Farm Show each year. Madeline's brother, Jared, who is "8, almost 9," nearly passed out from the strain of being asked to pick his favorite part of the day.

"Everything," he said, literally quivering with excitement. "I cannot choose. Everything is great."

Nearby, 4-year-old Leah Martin of Dover was overjoyed after petting a piglet. She was touring the complex with parents Todd and Stacey Martin and older brothers Colson, 8, who preferred the baby chicks, and Brock, 7, who liked the tractors best.

The Farm Show continues from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. today through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Highlights include:

Today — 8 a.m., open beef cattle judging, junior market swine classes; 3:30 p.m., grand champion junior market swine; 4:30 p.m., supreme champion beef; 7 p.m., square dance competition.

Tuesday — 9:30 a.m., sale of champions; 10 a.m., pony pulling, hitch and drive; 10:30 a.m., junior market swine sale; 12:30 p.m., junior market lamb sale; 2 p.m., junior market steer sale; 3 p.m., junior market goat sale, horse-pulling; 5 p.m., carriage racing.

Wednesday — 10 a.m., youth fleece to shawl contest; 3 p.m., sheep to shawl contest; 5 p.m., carriage racing, antique tractor pull; 5:30 p.m., bid calling contest; 6:30 p.m., sheep to shawl auction; 7 p.m., fleece to shawl auction; 7:30 p.m., rabbit meat pens auction.

Thursday — 8 a.m., junior dairy goat showmanship, junior dairy goat judging; 11 a.m., culinary cookoff; 1 p.m., special kids rodeo; 5 p.m., junior meat breeding goat demonstration; 7 p.m., circuit finals rodeo.

Friday — 8 a.m., sheep judging, dairy cattle judging, open dairy goat judging; 9:30 a.m., dairy cattle judging; 10 a.m. and noon, tractor square dance; 2:30 p.m., supreme champion of dairy breeds; 3 p.m., cow milking contest, junior breeding sheep show, best doe of show; 3:30 p.m., junior dairy cattle showmanship; 6 p.m., equine showcase; 7 p.m., circuit finals rodeo.

Saturday — 8 a.m., sheep judging, open Boer goat judging; 9 a.m., dairy judging school; 1 p.m., sheep supreme champion; 2 p.m., equine showcase; 5 p.m., circuit finals rodeo.

For a full schedule of events, visit the state Farm Show online at www.farmshow.state.pa.us.

tknapp@lnpnews.com