HARRISBURG — When the calendar turns to January, John Hausner can't imagine being anywhere other than the Pennsylvania Farm Show, where he has shown and sold beef cattle since 1970.

For Hausner, who owns JDH Cattle Co. in Dover, the weeklong event is a major marketplace. Even if he doesn't get any immediate sales in the exhibition hall where eight of his Black Angus cows are resting comfortably on straw beds, a prospective buyer might call him afterward.

"It gets in your blood — you want to be here," the 58-year-old Maryland native said Thursday. "Some people like to race cars. I like to show cattle, but I also want to make money while I'm doing it."

On Saturday, throngs of spectators will descend on the 25-acre Farm Show Complex on the outskirts of Harrisburg as the show billed as the nation's largest indoor agricultural exposition opens for its 90th anniversary. The event runs through Jan. 14.

More than 400,000 visitors are expected to take in the showcase of Pennsylvania's nearly $45 billion agriculture industry, featuring 10,000 animals, 8,000 competitive exhibits and 270 commercial exhibitors.

"I'm 54 years old, and I've probably been to 45 of those 90 farm shows," said state Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff, a Columbia County dairy farmer. "The competitions were my favorite part growing up."

One of the show's new features this year is a display of 19th-century farm tools from the collection of Penn State University's Pasto Agricultural Museum, including a foot-powered wood turning lathe and an animal-powered butter churn.

In a nod to the future, the exhibits also will include an area devoted to renewable energy sources.

The schedule lists many traditional favorites as well, such as the high-school rodeo championships, a "sheep-to-shawl" contest, and culinary competitions judging everything from apple pie to pineapple upside-down cake.

One of the more offbeat attractions is the show's annual butter sculpture. This year, Conshohocken sculptor Jim Victor carved up 1,000 pounds of butter for a creamy statue of two men unloading a modern milk vending machine from an old-time milk delivery wagon, illustrating advances in the dairy industry.

"I don't know if it's the best one I've done, but it's the biggest one," Victor said after the sculpture was unveiled Thursday.

Gov. Ed Rendell is expected to participate in Saturday's opening ceremonies and will tour the facility, including a food court that boasts a vast array of Pennsylvania products such as fried mushrooms, potato doughnuts and milkshakes.

"He has several favorites and looks forward to sampling each of them during his tour," spokeswoman Kate Philips said.

WHEN: Saturday through Jan. 14DIRECTIONS: The Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex is located just off exit 67 of Interstate 81 in Harrisburg. To alleviate traffic congestion on I-81, message boards and signs also will direct visitors onto alternate routes, including Elmerton Avenue and routes 39, 22/322 and 230.ADMISSION: FreePARKING: $5, including shuttle bus service to and from off-site lots.MORE INFORMATION: www.farmshow.state.pa.us