It's an annual tradition for the Manheim Young Farmers to collect nonperishable items during the Manheim Farm Show, and this year is no exception. The group will collect food for the Manheim Central Food Pantry during the Farm Show parade on Wednesday, Oct. 5. The parade will begin at 7 p.m.

"We'll have a tractor pulling a wagon in the parade, and we'll have some kids from Manheim Central FFA helping to facilitate collecting donations," said Jonathan Werning, who teaches at Manheim Central High School and is the adviser of the Manheim Young Farmers. "We'll also collect items during the Farm Show week." The collection area will be set up in the children's area of the Farm Show.

In addition to the food drive during the week, third-graders in the Manheim Central School District and at Manheim Christian Day School will be given brown paper bags to collect items as part of the Ag in the Classroom initiative.

"The food drive really helps to keep our shelves stocked with needed items and the ones we often are low in," said food pantry volunteer Cindy Swisher, noting that soup and canned fruit and vegetables are particularly needed. "We are really grateful for the generosity of the community."

Participation in the Manheim Young Farmers offers continuing agricultural education after high school, noted Werning. The group hosts service projects such as the food drive, attends ag trade shows, tours agriculture sites and holds meetings to help farmers keep up to date on subjects such as pesticide license renewal. It is open to anyone who works in the ag industry.

The Manheim Farm Show will run from Monday, Oct. 3, through Friday, Oct. 7, at 502 Adele Ave. The show has long been a supporter of the Manheim Central Food Pantry. Along with donating to the Manheim Young Farmers' food drive, people can purchase livestock during the farm show sale on Oct. 7 and donate the animal to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, which will process the meat for distribution at the food pantry. The pantry, located at 334 W. Gramby St., serves as a supplemental food program for residents of the Manheim Central School District.

Additional highlights of the week include crowning of Farm Show royalty on Oct. 3; a pedal tractor pull on Tuesday, Oct. 4; and a benefit auction on Thursday, Oct. 6. The Manheim FFA Children's Farm Show will run all week and will include educational displays and activities, animal exhibits and more. A complete list of Manheim Farm Show activities may be found at http://www.manheimfarmshow.org. It is recommended that Farm Show visitors park at Manheim Brethren in Christ Church, 54 N. Penryn Road, and take a free shuttle to the White Oak Road walkway through the covered bridge to access the show.