ALBEMARLE — While the official grand opening of the Stanly County Farm Bureau Livestock Arena isn’t until Agri-Civic Day on Aug. 17, the building’s inaugural event will be at this weekend’s Carolina Wildlife Classic.
Outdoor enthusiasts can check out the new arena at Saturday’s event between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m at 26130 Newt Road in Albemarle; tickets are $8 and free for children under 10.
Promoted by 704 Outdoors and the Stanly Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Stanly), the second-annual Carolina Wildlife Classic is a one-day event that will feature hunting, fishing and camping vendors, along with food trucks and family activities.
Door prizes will be awarded every 20 minutes during the event’s duration.
Previously held at the Stanly County Fairgrounds, the 2024 installment of the Carolina Wildlife Classic will host vendors such as Wise Eye Technology, Black Widow Deer Lures, Gold Digger Wild Game Attractant, and Fish Bite Rod Holders, among others.
“We’re so excited for you to see this place,” 704 Outdoors owner John MacPherson said in an event announcement. “This is the new home for 704 Outdoors’ future events. The Carolina Coyote Classic will be held right here. And if you guys want to hold an event for yourself, you want to scope this place out for sure.”
The facility and site preparation cost of the new arena was estimated at around $5.6 million, according to a resolution passed by the Stanly County Board of Commissioners in March 2023.
“We spared no expense and you should definitely come check it out,” added Chris Lambert, the facilities and operations director for the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center and Farm Bureau Livestock Arena. “We’re really excited you guys are coming here and we’re really excited for you to see what we have to offer.”
After a decade of planning, a groundbreaking for the Farm Bureau Livestock Arena was held back in April 2023 — the building is now ready for the public 16 months later.
“We’ve got a five-foot by-10-foot pixel wall,” Lambert said. “We’ve got a state of the art sound system. The livestock arena itself is 200-feet by-120-feet with a 7500 square foot exhibit hall. The facility is brand new and absolutely beautiful.”
Kasey Brooks, the new executive director of the Stanly Convention and Visitors Bureau, provided a formal welcome to 704 Outdoors for the upcoming event.
“I’m excited to welcome 704 Outdoors to Stanly County,” Brooks said. “Come grab your fishing lures and all your outdoor equipment, and then go hit up our local lakes. We have Badin Lake and Lake Tillery, and over 10,000 acres of lake for that and recreation areas. We have local restaurants in town, as well as boutiques for women traveling and for the kids. We have the Badin Road Drive-In, so make sure you come check us out. There’s also wonderful wineries and breweries and a little bit of something for everybody.”
Additional information about the Carolina Wildlife Classic and Carolina Coyote Classic is available at 704outdoors.tv.