Bucolic Briefs
The North Carolina chapter of Re-Run, a non-profit organization that places ex-racehorses into adoptive homes, now has thoroughbred racehorses available for adoption. Thoroughbreds are versatile and do well in any number of disciplines, such as show horses, eventers, fox hunters or pleasure horses, according to Elizabeth Macdonald with Re-Run. For more, go to www.rerun.org or contact Elizabeth Macdonald at hemacd@mindspring.com.
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The Fall Equestrian Exchange Consignment Sale will be held Sept. 3-7 in the Holshouser Building at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. The sale offers opportunity to buy and sell equestrian-related items, and tack and barn supplies. A preview sale on Sept. 3 from 5 to 9 p.m. is $6. Admission is free Sept. 4-7. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sept. 4-6, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 7. Drop off items to sell Sept. 2 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pick up unsold items Sept. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Consignors earn 75 percent of sales. For more, contact Lynn Beeson, (336) 697-1097 or go to www.EquestrianExchange.com.
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The N.C. Simmental Association will hold a Simmental sale featuring bulls, cows and heifers Sept. 5 at noon in Statesville. Call (336) 468-1679 or e-mail ncsa@yadtel.net for a catalog.
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The 9th Annual Justice Community Antique Tractor, Car and Engine Show will be held Sept. 11 and 12 at Duke Memorial Baptist Church in Louisburg. Times are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Admission for ages 12 and up is $5. Contact Donnie Aycock, (919) 853-2925; Paul Kilmer, (919) 496-2522; or Phillip Rice, (919) 853-3161, for more information.
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There will be an open horse show Sept. 12 starting at 1 p.m. at Biggerstaff Park Horse Complex in Dallas. For more, call Judy Yarbrough at (704) 400-1899.
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The Coastal Carolina Saddle Club will hold horse shows Sept. 12 and Oct. 10 beginning at 10 a.m. Rain dates are the following Sundays. Shows feature English, Western and gaming classes. For more, contact Linda Barker at (252) 560-3213.
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The Gaston County Saddle Club will host an open horse show Sept. 19 at Biggerstaff Park Horse Complex in Dallas. For more, contact Marlin Chappell at (704) 263-8366 or Diane Craig at (704) 732-2745 for a show-class sheet.
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The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service will host a workshop Sept. 23 from 7-9 p.m. at the J.C. Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh. “Agronomic Testing Resources for Lawns and Gardens” will cover soil sampling for nutrient analysis and nematode assay, tests for evaluating the quality of compost and irrigation water and where to go for help identifying and managing weeds, insects and diseases. The class is free. For more, go to www.ncagr.gov/agronomi/ or call (919) 733-2655.
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The Central Carolina Antique Tractor and Machinery Association will sponsor an open antique tractor and machinery show Sept. 26 and 27 at Harts Pumpkin Farm in Bear Creek. Entries must be 1974 or earlier and must be received each day by 11 a.m. Trophies will be awarded. For more, contact Dwayne Hart, (919) 837-5363; Donald Shelton, (336) 581-3293 or 879-5023; or Bobby Woody, (336) 581-3310 or 879-2218.
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The United States Equine Rescue League Inc. has hundreds of healthy horses available for adoption. All horses have current Coggins test, up-to-date vaccines and various levels of training. There is a small fee to adopt. To learn more about fostering, adopting or volunteering go to www.USERL.org or contact Sue Meadows, (252) 224-0959, Teresa Campbell, (919) 221-1564, or Cindy Mantyla, (252) 244-2813.***
The N.C. Forestry Association will hold its annual meeting Oct. 7-9 at the Marriott Grande Dunes Resort in Myrtle Beach, S.C. For more, contact Chris Brown with the NCFA, at (800) 231-7723.***
The Farm Bureau BioAg Symposium will be held Nov. 12 at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke Biotechnology Research and Training Center. The free, day-long education symposium will cover many aspects of agriculture. Topics focus on: forestry, freshwater fish production, organic food production, increased farm production, honey bees and the N.C. food supply, practical seed and plant tissue culture, future feedstocks in North Carolina, impacts of farming on the state’s natural resources and biofuels quality. Lunch will be provided. The event is hosted by UNCP and the N.C. Community College System’s BioNetwork/BioAg Center. For more, contact Ed Hunt, (910) 345-0080 or e-mail at hunte@ncbionetwork.org.***
The 2009 American Breeds Livestock Conservancy Annual Conference will be held Nov. 13 and 14 at the Clarion Hotel State Capitol, Raleigh. “Crucial Cuisine: Putting Rare Breeds Back on the Table” is the event theme, featuring a number of clinics focused on hog husbandry, breeding rare rabbits, selecting heritage chicken breeding stock and introduction to microdairying with sheep, cattle and goats. Early registration by Sept. 30 is $135 for members or $185 for non-members. To register, contact the ALBC at (919) 542-5704 or go to www.albc-usa.org.***
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.***
