Harlinsdale Farm fundraiser is galloping success

The annual Raising the Roofs event at the Park at Harlinsdale Farm on Aug. 15 was a barnstorming success, with 500 reservations, 17 participating restaurants and caterers and a dozen or so horses.

The big news of the day was the announcement of Tractor Supply Company’s five-year naming rights deal for an equestrian arena that is under construction at Harlinsdale.

Much like a football stadium, the new arena will be named Tractor Supply Co. Arena. The financial support will help enable Friends of Franklin Parks to further its work with this magnificent park on Franklin Road, right at the city’s edge. Kudos to equine veterinarian Monty McInturff, owner of Tennessee Equine Hospital and president of the Board of Governors for Friends of Franklin Parks, who spearheaded the partnership with Tractor Supply, a Brentwood-based chain.

Steve Barbarick, Tractor Supply’s executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, was among the company executives on hand for the day’s event.

Harlinsdale Farm, founded in 1937, was a nationally recognized breeding operation for more than 75 years before it was acquired by the city of Franklin. It is now in a permanent conservation easement and is a passive city park. And it’s not just for horses. The park is home to the fantastic K-9 Korral dog park and walking and running trails, and morphs into an event venue on many occasions.