Agriculture, Events, Pittsboro

First annual Chatham County Spring Ag Fest is this Saturday, March 24

by Debbie Roos

Pittsboro, NC – Chatham County invites residents to join us for our first annual Spring Ag Fest at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center (CCACC) on Saturday, March 24, from 10 am to 2 pm.

Exhibitors inside the Conference Center Exhibit Hall at the 2017 Grand Opening.
Photo by Debbie Roos.

Drawing from the rich community tradition of Chatham County Farm Bureau’s annual Ag Awareness Day, the Spring Ag Fest evolved from our very successful CCACC Grand Opening Celebration in 2017. Over 1,500 people so enjoyed the exhibits and events that we decided to make it an annual event! Click here to view photos from the Grand Opening Celebration.

The Spring Ag Fest is a celebration of Chatham County’s agriculture, forestry, and natural resources. The event will offer something for everyone: livestock, exhibits, demonstrations, food trucks, and more.

This event is made possible by the collaborative efforts of Chatham County Cooperative Extension, Chatham County Soil & Water, Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center, and the Chatham County Farm Bureau.

We have some exciting events planned at the Livestock Arena:

  • 10:20 am: Flag Ceremony at the Livestock Arena
  • 10:30 am: North Carolina Horse Council Parade of Breeds
  • 11:00 am: 4-H Livestock Exhibition
  • 11:30 am: Hunter Jumper Horse Demonstration
  • 12:00 pm: Break
  • 12:30 pm: Cutting Horse Demonstration
  • 1:00 pm: Working Dog Demonstration
  • 1:30 pm: Barrel Racing Demonstration

Livestock including cattle, horses, sheep, goats, donkeys, poultry, rabbits, and more will be on display for an up-close look. We will have free pony rides for kids sponsored by the Chatham County Farm Bureau! Visitors can try their hand at milking a Lilly Den Farm cow!

Indoor and outdoor exhibitors and vendors will highlight local farms, farmers’ markets, sustainable agriculture, agricultural support and advocacy, agribusiness, beekeeping, livestock, forestry, green industry, wildlife, conservation, and much more. Visitors will get to meet Smokey Bear and chat with our local forest rangers.

Join our Family and Consumer Science Agent Phyllis Smith for one of her cooking demonstrations in the Teaching Kitchen:

  • 11:30 am: New Ways with Chicken
  • 1:00 pm: Unusual Ways with Common Vegetables

Several food trucks will offer tasty options for lunch. Thanks to the generosity of the Chatham County Farm Bureau, the first 800 visitors will receive a $5 food ticket to spend at the food trucks!

Food Trucks

Exhibitors

Indoor and outdoor exhibits will be in several areas throughout the Agriculture & Conference Center site and feature livestock, farm equipment, plants, produce, a firefighting helicopter, informational booths, and much more. A designated outdoor area will feature vendors offering items for sale. We will have something for everyone!

The event is free and open to the public.