by Think Currituck, on 9/27/21 2:49 PM
Agriculture is big business in North Carolina.
According to the 2020 State Agriculture Overview, North Carolina was home to 46,000 farms with 8.4 million acres of farmland. The state ranks first in the nation for flue cured tobacco and sweet potatoes, as well as #2 in the nation for hogs, poultry/eggs receipts, turkeys, Christmas trees, and trout.
Currituck County continues to be a steady producer of soybeans, corn and wheat. As of the last USDA Census of Agriculture (2017), the county supports 89 farms with over 44,000 acres dedicated to farming. And not surprisingly, 92% of those farms are family-owned.
Those numbers will likely change after the next Census of Agriculture in 2022, but families and farms will always continue to be an important part of Currituck County.
On Saturday, October 2, you can come celebrate the county's agricultural roots at the Currituck Farm Festival. The event will be held from 1-4 pm at the N.C. Cooperative Extension, Currituck County Center at 120 Community Way in Barco, NC.
"Agriculture is a vital part of our history and life today in Currituck County," said Cameron Lowe, the County Extension Director. "We are excited about the opportunity to celebrate our farmers and educate the public on the importance of this industry that we all depend upon."
RELATED READ: Taking Care of Agribusiness in Northeastern North Carolina
The celebration, will start with a recognition of the local Century Farms and our Currituck farmers with an appreciation lunch at our food truck corral. Visitors can stop by to support our local businesses and grab a bite to eat.
There will also be an “agriculture through the years” display where agricultural processes from then and now will be highlighted. Interactive displays will include fun for the whole family, such as corn shelling, hayrides, antique tractors and tools, soap-making demos, pumpkin bowling, and more!
The N.C. Cooperative Extension will also award their Homegrown and Handmade contest winners, hold the 4-H Chicken Show and visitors can vote in the Brunswick stew cook-off.
There will also be a skillet-throwing contest. Think you can throw a cast-iron skillet pretty far? Ready to prove it in front of a crowd of strangers? Then get down there on Saturday for some of THIS.
If you plan on attending, you can let them know you’re coming by registering at https://currituckfarmfest21.eventbrite.com.
To stay up to date on the Currituck Farm Festival and to learn how you can enter these contests, check out their website, Eventbrite site, and YouTube channel for updates, and follow @CurrituckCES on social media outlets.
For more information or questions, contact Cameron Lowe via email at cameron_lowe@ncsu.edu or phone at (252) 232-2261.
