Bucolic briefs
A Franklin County Horse Farm Tour will be held Aug. 2 from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring stops at three area horse farms. The program will include educational presentations, riding demonstrations and updates on the horse industry. Cost is $10, and participants can carpool to the stops. Fee includes lunch and door prizes. To register or for more information, contact Martha Mobley, extension agent, at 919-496-3344 or Martha_Mobley @ncsu.edu.
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The election of pork producer delegate candidates for the 2014 National Pork Producers (Pork Act) Delegate Body will take place at 1 p.m. Aug. 6 in conjunction with a N.C. Pork Council's Board of Directors meeting at the J.C. Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh. All N.C. pork producers are invited to attend. Any producer, 18 years or older, who is a resident of the state and had paid all assessments due may be considered as a delegate candidate and participate in the election. All eligible producers are encouraged to bring with them a sales receipt of hog sales and check-off payment. For more information, contact Amy Cave, N.C. Pork Council, 919-781-0361.
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The Stanly County Fair will host a horse pull and antique tractor pull in August. The 2nd Annual Walter B. Hill American Legion Post 76 Horse Pull will be held Aug. 9 at 6 p.m. The antique tractor pull will be held Aug. 10 at 4 p.m. For more information, contact Marvin Bost at 980-521-1302.
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The Equestrian Exchange Tack Fall Consignment Sale will be held Aug. 29-Sept. 2 in the Holshouser Building at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. This is the 10th anniversary of the fall sale, where equestrian-related items for all riding disciplines can be bought or consigned for sale. Consignors drop off items Aug. 27 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. A special premiere shopping night will be held Aug. 29 from 5-9 p.m. Cost is $7. Regular shopping hours are from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 30-Sept. 1 and noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 2 with free admission. Consignors will pick up unsold items Sept. 4 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. or items can be donated to nonprofit equestrian organizations. Consignors earn 75 percent of sale price. Volunteers will shop before the public. For more, go to www.EquestrainExchange.com or contact Lynn Beeson at 336-362-6248 or Tanya Wright at 540-977-1950.
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The N.C. Simmental Association's Fall Harvest Sale will be Sept. 7 at noon at the Shuffler Sale Facility in Union Grove. The sale will include bulls, cows, pairs and heifers. For more, go to www.ncsimmental.com or call Jennie Rucker at 336-468-1679.
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An open horse show will be held Sept. 7 at 10 a.m. at Latta Equestrian Park in Huntersville. For more, call Judy Yarbrough at 704-400-1899 or email at judyyar@aol.com.
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The Lumber River Old Iron Tractor Club will host the Southeast N.C. Ag Show Sept. 20 and 21 at the Southeastern Ag Events Center in Lumberton. The event features antique tractors and equipment, crafts, food, old-fashioned children's games, farm toys, antique household items, blacksmithing and hit-and-miss engines. There will be a lawn mower pull Friday at 6 p.m. and an antique tractor pull Saturday at 1 p.m. Hours are 4-9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Proceeds benefit Hospice House and FFA student scholarships. For more, contact Cindy Risen at 910-739-4401.
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The Piedmont Saddle Club in Colfax will open its lighted arena every Friday night from 5-9 p.m. for horse riders. The cost is $10 per horse and equine owners must provide proof of Coggins testing and sign a waiver. The events are open to the public. Contact info@piedmontsaddleclub.org for more information.
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