Senator Bob Martin Ag Center: A Gem in Williamston, NC has something for everyone
The Senator Bob Martin Ag Center is named after the late Senator Bob Martin, who was a champion of rural development and agriculture.
It is located in eastern North Carolina in the small town of Williamston. It has 100,000 square feet of space with a 150′ x 300′ arena.
It’s heated, ventilated, and pulsing with energy. The center hosts rodeos, horse shows, concerts (Willie Nelson was here), farm shows, tractor pulls, and Monster Truck Jams. And Grave Digger was here at Big Mill to take some photos.
Monte Roberts, the real Horse Whisperer, stayed here at Big Mill B&B while he was doing a show at our Equestrian Center. As a teenager, he spent time in the wild with mustangs and learned their “language.” He can be in an arena with a horse that has never been ridden and by the end of the show, someone rides the horse.
Monte’s book “The Man Who Listens to Horses,” talks about his method. “NO violence, why would you want to break a horse’s spirit,” he asked me? A side note – he did all the riding in the movie National Velvet. Monte wore a cap with braided pigtails. Elizabeth Taylor didn’t get on the horse.
The permanent seating for 2286 is quite the grandstand. I saw the Lipizzaner here in this arena – what a show.
Adjacent to the arena, is a fully enclosed paddock for warmups and practice. There are barns that have 465 permanent horse stalls.
The barns have climate-controlled bathrooms for the horses, improved ventilation, and 18 heated wash bays—they’ve thought of everything.
Many of the “horse people” don’t like to leave their horses, so they can stay at one of the Ag Center’s 100 RV sites that have water, electricity, and a 4-station waste disposal site.
There is also a Meeting Center Exposition Hall where banquets, meetings, and trade shows happen. It is climate-controlled, of course. Ten thousand three hundred eighty square feet of possibility.
Whether you’re a seasoned horse whisperer, a curious first-timer, or someone who simply appreciates the magic of equines, the Senator Bob Martin Ag Center invites you to witness these captivating horse shows for free. Grab your hat and dust off your boots.
Distances From:
Raleigh, NC – 100 miles
Greenville, NC – 25 miles
Norfolk, VA – 110 miles
Big Mill Bed and Breakfast in Williamston, NC – 5 miles(252) 799-8787
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