Horse Council raising money for new building at ag center
The N.C. Horse Council and the NCHC Foundation are raising money to build a horse stall barn at the Southeastern N.C. Agricultural Events Center in Lumberton. They have raised $76,000 toward their goal of $100,000.
The fundraiser, known as the "Stall Naming Project," will help meet a need at the center and in the state's equine industry, said Sue Gray, the Horse Council's executive director. The effort fits nicely with the council's mission of growing the equine industry across North Carolina, she said.
The fundraiser has a variety of sponsorship levels. Donors who give at least $1,000 will have the opportunity to place an engraved plate on a stall door, but smaller donations also are being accepted, Gray said.
Individuals interested in making a donation may contact the Horse Council at suegray@nchorsecouncil.com or 919-854-1990. Donations also can be made online by visiting www.nchorsecouncil.com and clicking on the "Donate" button. Donations are tax-deductible.
The stall barn will complement the center's most recent addition, a 55,000-square-foot multipurpose building known as the Pavilion. Since its opening last April, the building has played host to horse shows and other events, such as the Southeast Ag Show.
The addition of a stall barn will allow the center to accommodate horses for overnight stays. The center then can work to attract larger, multi-day horse shows, said Kent Yelverton, director of property and construction at the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which operates the center.
The Horse Council's fundraiser for the stall barn is just one example of the group's overall commitment to the Southeastern N.C. Agricultural Events Center, Yelverton said. "The Horse Council has put a lot of hours into supporting the center," he said. "They are passionate and dedicated."
The city of Lumberton, Robeson County and Robeson County Farm Bureau also have pledged $50,000 apiece toward the building's estimated cost of $250,000
"This is a good example of government working in partnership with private organizations toward a goal," Yelverton said.
For a schedule of events at the center, visit www.southeasternagcenter.com.
