The new Farm Bureau Livestock Arena served as the centerpiece of Saturday’s annual Stanly County Agri-Civic Day celebration.
For seven hours, vendors, exhibitors and representatives of community organizations provided information to the public, area 4-H clubs conducted the “Youth Livestock Classic” during which youngsters exhibited livestock and state and local officials delivered comments at the official grand opening of the long-awaited arena.

Stanly County and NC Farm Bureau representatives, from left: Curtis Furr, John Sanders, Blakely Atkins, Gary Hatley, Dennis Furr, Shawn Harding, Jason Silver, Trish Morgan, Butch Brooks, Laura Hatley and Lori Ivey. (Photo by TOBY THORPE)

Arena Director Chris Lambert welcomed a large crowd gathered in the facility’s community room for the 10:30 a.m. ceremony.

Facility Director Chris Lambert welcomes guests to the ribbon cutting. (Photo by TOBY THORPE)

Beth Farrell, program development coordinator for the NC Department of Agriculture, represented NC Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler at the event, and described the facility as a “cornerstone of the county that will serve as a hub for agricultural commerce for years to come.”
NC District 67 House Rep. Wayne Sasser commended those who pushed for the facility’s development on their foresight, fundraising and frugality.
“This facility is already paid for, and not a dime is owed on it,” he said. “It now belongs to the people of Stanly County, and I’m honored to be your representative.”

4-H members (and goats) await their turn to exhibit: Alysa Crayton, Lillian Waller, Emilee Shue and Elliott Labiche. (Photo by TOBY THORPE)

Sasser described the facility as “the best this side of Laurinburg.”
Stanly County Commission Chair Bill Lawhon gave a brief synopsis of the history of the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center, noting that a livestock arena was part of the original plan for the center, which was completed in the late 1980s.
“This is a true public-private partnership,” Lawhon said, noting that NC Farm Bureau contributed $400,000 toward the facility and to secure naming rights in 2015.
“Individual citizens and organizations have contributed as well,” he added.
Stanly County Farm Bureau President Gary Hatley and NC Farm Bureau President Shawn Harding recognized persons who had worked for years to make the facility a reality.
“I’m proud of our (Farm Bureau) Board of Directors, past and present, for their foresight,” Hatley remarked.
“This building represents an opportunity to bring people together,” added Harding. “We thank Stanly County for its commitment to agriculture.”
Other speakers included Susan Kelly of NC Cooperative Extension, NC District 6 Sen. Carl Ford and County Commissioner Peter Asciutto. The program culminated with Curtis Furr, who along with the late Reggie Medlin, originally advocated for the arena, and persisted in pushing for its development.
“I feel like we’ve beat an anvil into sheet metal,” Furr said. “It’s been a long go to see this facility come about.”
Furr expressed heartfelt thanks to Medlin, whom he called his “best friend.”
“I really miss him,” he said, adding that he and Medlin had originally floated the idea of building a “pole barn.”
“We found out pretty soon that a pole barn wasn’t going to be enough,” he said.
Furr also was highly complimentary of County Manager Andy Lucas for his support and guidance during the facility’s development and construction.
“We went head to head a lot of times,” said Furr, “but in the end we were still able to shake hands.”
The facility is available to the public, and can be reserved for events by contacting the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center at 704-986-3666.

Toby Thorpe is a freelance writer for The Stanly News & Press.

Three-year old Vera Hahn grooms Starla the Calf at the Red Barn Petting Exhibit. (Photo by TOBY THORPE)