Bucolic Briefs
The Rodeo Legends Tour will host a number of upcoming rodeo, bull riding and bull fighting events in August and September. Following is a list of events and contact information: Aug. 9 at the Johnston County Livestock Arena in Smithfield - Pro bull riding and freestyle bull fighting. Call (919) 550-9386 for times and more.; Aug. 15 & 16 at 8 p.m. at the N.C. Boys & Girls Home Arena in Lake Waccamaw – Pro rodeo to benefit the N.C. Boys & Girls Home; Aug. 31 & Sept. 1 at 8 p.m. at the Upper S.C. State Fair Arena in Greenville, S.C. – Pro rodeo; Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. at the Iredell County Fairgrounds Arena – Pro bull riding; Sept. 12 & 13 at 8 p.m. at the Chamber Park Arena in Mountain City, Tenn. – Pro rodeo; Sept. 19-21 at 8 p.m. at the All American Sports Arena in Rock Hill, S.C. – Fall Festival and pro rodeo; Sept. 26 & 27 at 7 p.m. at the Cumberland County Fairgrounds Arena in Fayetteville – Pro bull riding and freestyle bull fighting. Call (704) 882-6994 for all events except the one on Aug. 9.
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The election of pork producer delegate candidates for the 2009 National Pork Producers (Pork Act) Delegate Body will take place at 1 p.m. Aug. 12, in conjunction with the Board of Directors meeting of the N.C. Pork Council at the University Club, Hillsborough Street, Raleigh. All pork producers are invited to attend.
Any producer who is a resident of the state and hand paid all assessments due may be considered as a delegate candidate and/or participate in the election. All eligible producers are encouraged to bring with them a sales receipt proving that hogs were sold in their name and the checkoff deducted. For more information, contact the N.C. Pork Council, 2300 Rexwoods Drive, Suite 340, Raleigh, NC 27607 or call (919) 781-0361.
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The Joyful Noise Open Horse Series will be held at 4-T Stables in Lewisville Aug. 23, Sept. 27 and Oct. 25 featuring English, Western and gaming divisions. The event includes youth, open and amateur classes. For more, contact Joyful Noise Farm at (336) 786-9130 or (336) 429-6240.
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The Equestrian Exchange Consignment Sale, featuring horse items, clothing, tack, saddles and barn supplies, will be held Aug. 29- Sept. 1 in the Holshouser Building at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. Sale hours will be 10 a.m. -9 p.m., Aug. 29-31 and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sept. 1. Consignors should drop off tagged items Aug. 27 from 6-9 p.m. and Aug. 28 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Items not sold can be picked up Sept. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission and parking is free. Contact Lynn Beeson at (336) 697-1097 for more or go to www.EquestrianExchange.com.
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The Johnston County Horse Show Series features monthly horse shows starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Johnston County Livestock Arena in Smithfield. A negative Coggins test is required for all horses. Cost is $7.50 per class. Following are upcoming show dates: Aug. 30, Oct. 25 and Nov. 22. Rain dates for all shows are the following day. For more, contact Michele McLaughlin, (919) 934-1344 or e-mail sileeno@ipass.net.
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The 8th Annual Justice Community Antique Tractor, Car and Engine Show will be held Sept. 5 & 6 at Duke Memorial Baptist Church in Franklin County. Bluegrass and gospel singing will be featured on Sept. 5 from 5-8 p.m. A tractor drive will be held Sept. 6. For more, contact Donnie Aycock, (919) 853-2925, Paul Kilmer, (919) 496-2522 or Philip Rice, (919) 853-3161.
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The Person County Saddle Club will host a Draft Horse and Mule Fun Show Sept. 6 in Roxboro. For more, call Rob Hall at (336) 599-4039 or e-mail at pcsc3814@charter.net.
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The Gaston County Saddle Club Inc. will hold an open horse show Sept. 20 at Biggerstaff Park in Dallas. The event starts at 4 p.m. The rain date is Sept. 21. For more, contact Bev Couto at (704) 827-7491 or e-mail at bevcouto@bellsouth.net.
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Boothill Farm in Chapel Hill will host Hunter shows the third Saturday in September, October and November beginning at 9 a.m. The rain date for the shows is the third Sunday. Fee is $10 per class. For more information, go to www.boothillfarm.com or call (919) 967-2994.
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The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services encourages livestock producers to register their farms with the NCFarmID program. NCFarmID is a voluntary program to register farms for a national identification number as a way to protect livestock in the event of a disease outbreak. For more, contact NCDA&CS at (919) 715-2951 or go to www.NCFarmID.com.
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The 15th annual Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair will be held Oct. 24-26 at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Oct. 24 and 25, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 26. The event features fiber animals, workshops, demonstrations and vendors. Cost is $3. For more, contact Teri Gabic, (864) 468-4220 or Shirley Thobe, (828) 337-9032.
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The annual Carolina Green Living Expo will be held Nov. 21-23 in Concord. The free event will cover many aspects of agriculture from biofuels to sustainable farming, and will include a number of educational seminars. The hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 21 & 22, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 23. Organizers are still seeking vendors. Call (910) 795-0292 or go to www.carolinalivinggreenexpo.com for more.
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