Bucolic Briefs
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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An Equestrian Exchange Spring Tack Sale will be held May 14-16 at Tanglewood Mall in Roanoke, Va. Consignors can drop off items for sale on May 12 from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. or May 13 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sale hours will be 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 14 & 15 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 16. For more, contact Tanya Wright at (540) 977-1950 or Lynn Beeson at (336) 697-1097.
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The Union County Antique Tractor and Power Club will hold its first Farm Show and Festival 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 www.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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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: May 22; June 26; Sept. 4, Oct. 2. 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 N.C. Pecan Growers Association will host a spring orchard tour and workshop June 5 near Goldsboro at the orchard of Tim and Karen Haithcock. The event is open to anyone involved, or interested, in pecan farming. The workshop will include orchard demonstrations and discussions on weed and pest control, production and marketing. Growers, specialists from N.C. State University and N.C. Cooperative Extension, and a marketing specialist with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will be on hand. Cost is $15 and includes lunch. Registration begins at 8 a.m. For directions and more information, go to www.ncpecans.org or contact Laurie Wood, NCDA&CS marketing specialist, at (910) 532-4208 or e-mail at laurie.wood@ncagr.gov, or Bill Bunn, NCPGA president, at (919) 815-5764 or e-mail at carya@intrex.net.
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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: 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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Turtle Island Preserve near Boone will offer educational camps for boys and girls ages 7-18. The preserve features horses, goats and chickens. For more, contact Eustace Conway, director, (828) 265-2267.
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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 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 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.
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