Bucolic briefs
The N.C. State Beekeepers Association Spring 2014 meeting will be held July 10-12 at Wilkes County Community College in Wilkesboro. The event offers informational workshops for beginner beekeepers to advanced levels and includes presentations by educators and commercial operators. Vendors will be selling woodenware, veils, gloves and other equipment. For more, contact Ed Hunt at 910-272-3692.
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The Sandhills Farmers Market in Pinehurst is accepting new applications from producer-only farmers within 75 miles of Pinehurst for the upcoming season. Interested farmers can apply online via sandhillsfarmersmarket.com or call Melanie Riley, market manager, at 803-517-5476.
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The election of pork producer delegate candidates for the 2015 National Pork Producers (Pork Act) Delegate Body will take place at 11:30 a.m., Aug. 1, following the N.C. Pork Council's Executive Committee meeting. It will be held at the University of Mount Olive, Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center, 652 R.B. Butler Drive, Mount Olive. All N.C. pork producers are invited to attend. Any producer, age 18 or older, who is a resident of the state and has paid all assessments due may be considered as a delegate/candidate and/or participate in the election. All eligible producers are encouraged to bring with them a sale receipt proving that hogs were sold in their name and the checkoff was deducted. For more, contact the N.C. Pork Council, at 919-781-0361 or 2300 Rexwoods Drive, Suite 340, Raleigh.
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The 73rd Annual N.C. Gourd Arts and Crafts Festival and the American Gourd Society 2nd National Show will be held Sept. 6 & 7 at the Holshouser Building, State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The event features gourds from around the world, special gourd workshops, competitions and vendors selling dried gourds, gourd seeds, gourd crafts, gourd art, books and crafting supplies. There is a live auction on Saturday at noon and also a free gourd crafting table for kids. Details about the festival, a listing of workshops and information on how to enter the competitions can be found at www.ncgourdsociety.org/festival. Admission is $2 for adults, and free for children under 16, workshop students and N.C. Gourd Society members. For more, contact Kate Mahony, festival chair, at tolecat@nc.rr.com or 910-639-4577.
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Two Johnston County horse show series, one an open class and the second a hunter class, have been announced. The hunter show dates are Sept. 6 and Nov. 8. Following are open horse show dates: Aug. 9 & 10 at the Hunt Horse Complex in Raleigh, Sept. 20, Oct. 25 and Nov. 22. Events are held at the Johnston County Livestock Arena in Smithfield, except where noted. For more, go to www.blaine-mclaughlin-stables.com or call Michele McLaughlin at 919-934-1344.
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Beekeepers with bees for rent and growers interested in bee pollination services can post their information on the BeeLinked website at www.ncagr.com/beelinked. The site is hosted by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the N.C. State University Apiculture Program. Anyone interested in listing their information can do so by filling out an online Submit Your Ad form on the BeeLinked page or by contacting NCDA&CS at 919-233-8214 or by email at NCHoneybee@ncagr.gov or call NCSU at 919-515-1660. The NCDA&CS Plant Industry Division regulates the movement of agricultural or related items capable of spreading harmful insects, diseases, and other pests. Beekeepers participating in this program will be required to comply with all honey and bee industry regulations.
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