Legacy Farms
Challenge – Inclement weather conditions
Solution – Hercules Truss Arch Building
Size – 60′ wide x 100′ long
Application – Covered riding arena
Living in North Carolina, Liz Lawrence, owner of Legacy Farms, is no stranger to extreme weather. With 38 horses and an outdoor riding arena, the unpredictable weather became too much of a nuisance. She looked into a ClearSpan fabric building after purchasing a small greenhouse from ClearSpan’s partner company, FarmTek. Lawrence decided on a 60′ wide by 100′ long Round HD Building, and quickly found it to exceed her expectations.
The ClearSpan building provides a comfortable riding environment for Lawrence and her clients, which is a great alternative to always riding her horses and training out in the harsh sun. “It’s really nice in the summer, because it’s open on one end so there’s always shade, and it really protects from heat,” she said. The building has also become a great benefit to riders from other farms. Lawrence noted, “It rained so much this year, nobody could ride anywhere, because it was all so muddy. So people will pay to come and use the dry area to work their horses and ride.”
The real test for Legacy Farms was the structure withstanding an intense winter and hurricane season. “Since it was put up in 2017, it stood up through everything that’s blown through. There have been multiple snow storms and hurricanes, and we haven’t had any issues with the structure.” This includes weathering Hurricane Florence, a powerful 2018 storm with 137mph winds that caused widespread flooding throughout the state. The hurricane resulted in $17.9 billion in damages, primarily in southeast North Carolina where Legacy Farms is located, but was no test for the ClearSpan building which came out the other side stronger than ever.
Through many tests from mother nature, the Round HD Building stood strong for Lawrence and her horses. It has also acted as a great source of shelter during harsh weather. Lawrence said, “We had a few pregnant horses, so we put up a round bail. And they always had water, food and protection throughout the storm.” She was able to rest easy knowing her horses were safe and sheltered under the fabric structure.
Legacy Farms found the ClearSpan experience to be a positive one. According to Lawrence, “Ordering was great and very timely, and the gentleman who installed it did a great job. It’s been a very positive experience. I look at it as a way to keep up the farm and it helps the property maintain its value, so I’m just really happy with it.”
