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Agriculture committee approves three ceremonial resolutions recognizing forestry day, animal control and Ag Literacy Week
Summary
The Agriculture & Rural Affairs committee approved three house resolutions by voice vote, including an amendment moving a designated sustainable forestry day from 2025 to 2026. Representative Kinkade spoke about Ag Literacy Week; a member invited the public to a May 5 baler-blessing event.
The Agriculture & Rural Affairs meeting approved three ceremonial House resolutions in rapid succession, including an amendment that shifted a Sustainable Forestry Initiative Day from 2025 to 2026.
The committee first considered House Resolution 378 (printer's no. 2696), introduced by Representative Kauser, which would designate a Sustainable Forestry Initiative Day in the Commonwealth. A member offered amendment 02535 to replace the date 2025 with 2026; Destiny, the committee clerk, read the amendment summary. The chair asked for negative votes, heard none, and announced the amendment passed. The committee then brought House Resolution 378 up for a vote and passed it by voice vote.
The panel next approved House Resolution 419 (printer's no. 2932), introduced by Representative Harkins, which designates April 14, 2026 as an animal control officer and animal cruelty officer day and recognizes the week of April 2026 as National Animal Control Appreciation Week in Pennsylvania. The committee recorded no negative votes and the resolution passed by voice vote.
Finally, the committee recognized House Resolution 436 (printer's no. 2999), introduced by Representative Kinkade, designating the week of March 16–20, 2026 as Pennsylvania Ag Literacy Week. Representative Kinkade, who was present, described the week as a statewide effort organized by the Friends of Agriculture Foundation to bring farmers and agriculture workers into schools "to read a book, and talk to students about their experiences in the agriculture industry, to just help kids understand where their food comes from, why agriculture is important," and asked members for a yes vote. The committee approved the resolution by voice vote.
After business concluded, a member invited attendees to the fourth annual blessing of the balers on May 5, calling it a community event with food and activities. The moderator noted agriculture's economic importance to Pennsylvania and stated, "number 1 industry in Pennsylvania, $132,000,000,000," a figure recorded in the meeting record but not sourced during the discussion. Members thanked guests and adjourned.
Votes and formal actions were taken by voice vote; the committee did not record roll-call tallies in the file, and vote counts were not specified in the transcript.
