In they rumbled, trailer after trailer. From them unloaded seven teams, ready to be hitched in four two-up, one three-up and one six-up configurations. Hosted on March 30 by farmer Bobby Trip for the North Carolina Work Horse and Mule Association, this plow day featured a gentle breeze, bright sunshine and the loamy soil of Pitt County’s flat coastal plain. Designed to showcase the talent of highly-skilled teamsters and their 17 carefully harnessed partners, the mix included one team of ponies (above, driven by Robert Myers of Bertie County), one team of mules and five teams of the day’s predominant choice, Percherons. They pulled a variety of rigs, including walking plows, sulky plows and one forecart/gang plow combination. As equine ears flicked to catch commands from the drivers, each team adeptly muscled into its work as a crowd of admirers watched from the fringe of the huge field. Roughly three hours later the grass gave way to acres of neat furrows – a productive start to the spring planting season.