Bucolic briefs
The N.C. Work Horse and Mule Association and Cowboys for Christ is holding Jimmy Dozier’s Plow Day April 3 beginning at 10 a.m. The event, which will be held at 3406 East Old Spring Hope Road in Rocky Mount, will feature antique cars, old farm equipment, tractors, hit and miss engines, blacksmith/farrier, music and wagon rides. Rocky the Trick Mule will perform at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. For more, call Jimmy Dozier, (252) 813-6957.
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The New Bern Farmers Market is looking for antique tractors, trucks and farm equipment to display April 10 at the annual SpringFest as part of the city’s 300th anniversary celebration. For more, contact Julie McKeon, (252) 637-4172.
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Two grapevine pruning demonstrations are planned on April 13 for anyone interested in growing grapes. The first demonstration will be held at 10 a.m. in Madison County at the grapevine test plot in Marshall at the Preserve at Little Pine. The second demonstration will be held at 2 p.m. in Yancey County near Burnsville in a backyard vineyard that has not been pruned in 10 to 15 years. The demonstrations are free, but pre-registration is required. Contact Chuck Blethen at (828) 606-3130 or Blethen@GrapeSAVI.org to register and for more information and directions.
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The Johnston County Horse Show Series has announced its 2010 schedule, which is open to riders and horses from all riding levels, breeds and disciplines. All events will be held at the Johnston County Livestock Arena in Smithfield. Following are upcoming dates and start times: April 17; May 22; June 26; Sept. 4. All shows start at 8:30 a.m. Rain dates for all events will be the following day. For more, contact Michele McLaughlin at (919) 934-1344, by e-mail at sileeno@ipass.net or go to www.ipass.net/blaine_mclaughlin.
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The Cabarrus Master Gardener Volunteer Association will host its 5th Annual Spring Herb and Plant Festival April 17 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Piedmont Farmers Market at 518 Winecoff School Road in Concord. The festival will feature more than 75 vendors offering an array of plants, herbs, baked goods, garden art and accessories and garden products. In addition, master gardeners and extension agent Davis Goforth will be available to answer garden and plant-related questions. The event is free and will be held rain or shine. For more, contact Becky Lewis at (704) 920-3315 or e-mail at bhlewis@cabarruscounty.us.
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The Coastal Carolina Saddle Club Fun Show Series kicks off on April 17 with English, Western, non-trotting and gaming classes. Other series dates are June 5, Sept. 11 and Oct. 9. All shows will be held at Barker Farms, 1450 Streets Ferry Road, Vanceboro. For more, contact Linda Barker, (252) 560-3213
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The first Duplin County Mule and Donkey Fundraiser Show will be held April 24 at the Duplin County Event Center in Kenansville. Classes include halter, log skidding obstacle, weight pulling, pole bending, mule jump and more. Prizes will be given for division winners, and trophies and ribbons presented for each class. The entry fee is $8 per class and the deadline to enter is April 19. Admission is $5 for adults and kids 12 and under are admitted free. For more, call Leon Joyner, (910) 337-1025.
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B&M Stables in Four Oaks will offer a series of half-day horsemanship clinics with horse trainer Blaine McLaughlin. Following are clinic dates: April 24, May 29, June 19, July 24, Aug. 28, Sept. 25, Oct. 23 and Nov. 20. Classes run 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and cost $75. Classes are limited to five riders. For more, contact Michele McLaughlin, (919) 934-1344 or by e-mail at sileeno@ipass.net.
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A Ribbons for Rescues Fun Show, an event to benefit the U.S. Equine Rescue League, will be held May 1 at Barker Farms in Vanceboro. Gates open at 8 a.m., with classes starting at 10 a.m. A negative Coggins test is required. For more, contact Sue St. Clair, (252) 229-9281.
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The first Farm Show and Festival, sponsored by the Union County Antique Tractor and Power Club, will be held May 15 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and May 16 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Union County Agricultural Services and Conference Center in Monroe. The event features antique tractors, new tractors, new farm equipment, hit and miss engines, new boats and crafts, food and music. The event will also feature music and an appearance by Miss North Carolina on May 16. Cost is $5 for adults and free to kids under 6 years old. For more, go to unioncountytractors.com or call (704) 624-6105.
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The 7th Annual Franklin County Farm Foods and Crafts Tour and Local Food Festival will be held May 15 and 16 at the Franklin County Cooperative Extension Office in Louisburg. The event features local foods, youth fishing rodeo, a farm life photography contest, a quilt show and sale. For more, contact Martha Mobley at (919) 496-3344 or e-mail at Martha_mobley@ncsu.edu.
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N.C. MarketReady, a program of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service, has launched a new Tomato Growers Information Portal with production resources for greenhouse and field-grown tomatoes and information on food safety, marketing, integrated pest management, industry events and risk management tools. To access the portal, go to www.ncmarketready.org and click on the Growers Information Portals tab on the left menu bar. The portal was developed through grant funding from the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission and the Agricultural Advancement Consortium of the N.C. Rural Center.
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The N.C. 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 including shows, events, fox hunting or pleasure riding, 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 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.
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The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Veterinary Division is looking for small or large backyard or independent poultry flocks to test for avian influenza throughout the state. A minimum of 10 birds per flock would be tested by oral swabs four times each year at no cost to the owner. This program is to maintain surveillance for bird flu in North Carolina. Bird owners with questions or who want to be sure their flock is free of bird flu, can contact Dr. Sarah Mason or Jimmy Collie at (919) 733-7601.
