Mark Your Calenders for the Jefferson-Jackson Day Luncheon

Tim Holden will receive THE JEFFERSON award at the Jefferson-Jackson Day Luncheon on Saturday, January 6th, 2007 at Noon in the VIP Room at the Farm Show. Tickets are $25.00 payable to Penn Ag Democrats at P.O. Box 397, Centre Hall, PA 16828. Printable RSVP

There will be a bus to the Jefferson-Jackson Day Luncheon which will leave the Old Fort American Legion at 8 AM on the morning of January 6th, and leave Harrisburg at 4 PM for the return trip. Cost of the bus is $25.00 and can be paid to Penn Ag Democrats at P.O.Box 397, Centre Hall, PA 16828
Questions? Call Kim Bierly at 814-364-1042.

Penn Ag Democrats' Picnic Held August 16th, 2006:
Governor Rendell accepts a check for $5,000 from Penn Ag Democrats State Coordinator Keith Bierly. Penn Ag Democrats Picnic was a success! More than 300 people attended at least part of the 6 hour long picnic featuring speeches by Governor Rendell and Treasurer Casey.
View photos of the event.

PennAgDemocrats.org Launches NEW Web Site Look - Features!

(June 18, 2006) Due to growing interest in our organization, the Penn Ag Democrats recently launched a new and improved Web site that will include feature articles about our members, Democrat candidates, and more. In order to help people become involved with our group, we've added an easy online sign up for anyone who wishes to join or anyone who wants to receive our email updates from our State Coordinator, Keith Bierly. We sincerly hope that you enjoy the new look and features on the site and welcome your feedback.

2005 Fundraising Picnic | View Photos

      (Aug. 23, 2005 Centre County, PA) Once again, the Penn Ag Democrats held a successful fund-raising picnic at the Ferguson Township Lions Club Park in Centre County. The event is held on the Wednesday of Ag Progress Days; this year it was August 17th. Governor Rendell attended the event, and spoke to the 200 plus Penn Ag Democrats in attendance. The Governor spoke of his successful agricultural programs, including ACRE, Growing Greener 2, and the First Industries Fund. He was greeted warmly by the crowd who have come to appreciate his dedicated public service, and his willingness to address rural issues in Pennsylvania.

Among the "contests" were a STRAW POLL for the 2008 Democratic Presidential Nomination and a selection of The Top Fifty Democrats of all time. David King of State College won the "Top Fifty" contest, and sealed the deal by correctly identifying the Top Five in this order -- Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy, Woodrow Wilson and James Madison. The top five runners-up in the contest were Joe French, Kristen McKee, Jennifer Bierly, Greg Stewart and Dan Vilello.

The STRAW POLL results provided one confirmation of beliefs and one strong showing by an unannounced candidate. Hillary Clinton won the POLL convincingly, but Governor Rendell ran a strong second. The final vote tabulations:

(1) Senator Hillary Clinton 95 Votes
(2) Governor Edward G. Rendell 47 Votes
(3) Senator Joe Biden 37 Votes
(4) Senator John Edwards 34 Votes
(5) Senator Evan Bayh 28 Votes
(6) Senator John Kerry 27 Votes
(7) General Wes Clark 26 Votes
(8) Governor Howard Dean 25 Votes
(9) Governor Bill Richardson 24 Votes
(10) Vice-President Al Gore 22 Votes
(11) Senator Barack Obama 21 Votes
(12) Governor Mark Warner 7 Votes
(13) Representative Nancy Pelosi 5 Votes
(14) Governor Tom Vilsack 4 Votes

TOP 50 DEMOCRATS of ALL-TIME

(1) President Thomas Jefferson
(2) President Franklin D. Roosevelt
(3) President John F. Kennedy
(4) President James Madison
(5) President Woodrow Wilson
(6) President Harry Truman
(7) Vice-President Hubert Humphrey
(8) Justice Louis Brandeis
(9) President Lyndon Johnson
(10) President Andrew Jackson
(11) Speaker Sam Rayburn
(12) President Bill Clinton
(13) Justice Hugo Black
(14) President Grover Cleveland
(15) President Jimmy Carter
(16) Candidate Adlai Stevenson
(17) Senator Mike Mansfield
(18) Senator J. William Fulbright
(19) Justice William O. Douglas
(20) President James Polk
(21) Justice Thurgood Marshall
(22) Candidate William Jennings Bryan
(23) Justice Joseph Story
(24) President James Monroe
(25) First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt
(26) Senator John C. Calhoun
(27) Senator Edward Kennedy
(28) Senator Sam Ervin
(29) Speaker Tip O’Neil
(30) Justice William Brennan
(31) Speaker John W. McCormack
(32) Candidate Stephen Douglas
(33) Senator Robert Wagner, Sr.
(34) Justice Benjamin Cardozo
(35) Representative Barbara Jordan
(36) Governor Mario Cuomo
(37) Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan
(38) Justice Robert Jackson
(39) Vice-President Al Gore
(40) Senator Robert Byrd
(41) Senator Robert F. Kennedy
(42) Governor Edward G. Rendell
(43) Senator Gaylord Nelson
(44) Speaker Carl Albert
(45) Senator Carl Hayden
(46) Representative Dick Gephart
(47) Vice-President Walter Mondale
(48) Labor Leader Walter Reuther
(49) Labor Leader Caesar Chavez
(50) Senator Frank Church

Rendell Three-For-Three - Rendell Attends Third Straight Penn Ag Democrats Event | View Photos

      (Apr. 23, 2005 University Park, PA) Close to 200 Democrats stopped at the Penn Ag Democrats tailgate at the Penn State Blue-White Spring football game on April 23, 2005. For the third straight event, Governor Ed Rendell offered his comments. This time, however, the Penn Ag Democrats were fortunate to visit with Mrs. Rendell as well.

With 600 hot dogs, 800 cold drinks, 40 dozen hot wings, and dozens of desserts, no Democrat went away hungry or thirsty. Despite foreboding weather, the Penn Ag Democrats once again had a great time.

Their next scheduled event will be a picnic at the Ferguson Township Lions Club Park on Wednesday, August 17, 2005 during Ag Progress Days. Watch this site for further details.

Jefferson-Jackson Day Luncheon | View Photos

      (Jan. 8, 2005 Harrisburg, PA) Approximately 200 Democrats participated in the Jefferson-Jackson Day Luncheon Saturday at the Farm Show on the 190th anniversary of Andrew Jackson winning the Battle of New Orleans. Governor Ed Rendell, Secretary of Agriculture Dennis Wolff, and Auditor General Bob Casey were among the featured speakers. Boyd Wolff, former Secretary of Agriculture and current Chairman of the Milk Marketing Board, received the inaugural award - THE JEFFERSON. This award will be presented every year to someone who has made a significant contribution to both agriculture and government.

Governor Rendell thanked Chairman Wolff for his many years of public service, and Auditor General Casey, who presented the award, spoke of Wolff's commitment to agriculture and to family. Keith Bierly, who served as Master of Ceremonies and works for Wolff at the Milk Marketing Board said, "Boyd Wolff has literally changed the landscape of Pennsylvania. By starting a program that has already preserved more than 2,500 farms, we see every day the social, economic, and aesthetic value of his work."

Boyd Wolff was voted the outstanding student in dairy science his senior year at Penn State. He has maintained a more than 50 year relationship with the University, serving on the Board of Trustees for 17 years and being named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2002. He sponsors two different scholarships at Penn State, and has consulted in 14 different countries for USDA. He served 8 years as Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture under Governor Robert P. Casey, and served on the State Ethics Commission prior to his appointment by Governor Rendell as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board. A dairy farmer in Westmoreland County for more than 30 years, Mr. Wolff presently resides in Harrisburg with his wife Peggy.

Penn Ag Democrats Annual Picnic

      The Penn Ag Democrats held their annual picnic on the Wednesday of Ag Progress Days in Centre County. More than 300 Penn Ag Democrats attended the picnic held at the Ferguson Township Lions Club Park in Pine Grove Mills.

Governor Ed Rendell addressed the crowd, as did Auditor General Bob Casey Jr., Congressman Joe Hoeffel, and State Senator Jack Wagner. Entertainment was provided by three musical acts - K. J., Kenny Voltz, and Shelby Nestler. Auction items worth several thousand dollars were given away and the Pennsylvania Wine Association provided a wine-tasting booth.

The chicken barbecue lasted from 1 to 7 p.m. and featured the introduction of the "Rendell Roulette Wheel." The Centre County committee of Penn Ag Democrats hosting the event received congratulations for its success from Penn Ag Democrats State Chairman York County Commissioner Doug Kilgore. Also present were Penn Ag Democrats state treasurer Peggy Lucas from Dauphin County and Penn Ag Democrats state secretary Kim Bierly from Centre County.