The Granville County Historical Society & Museum invites the public to step back in time and experience the sights, sounds, and vibrant history of North Carolina’s agricultural heartland at “Granville Gold: Mock Tobacco Auction.” This special farm heritage and community celebration takes place on Sunday, September 27th, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the historic Oxford Tobacco Research Station, located at 300 Providence Road in Oxford.
Serving as both an educational community gathering and a vital fundraiser for the Granville County Historical Society & Museum, “Granville Gold” honors the rich legacy of flue-cured tobacco farming—a culture that defined community life, commerce, and family traditions in Granville County for generations. The event offers locals and visitors alike a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in authentic agricultural history, whether for nostalgic connection, family gathering, or first-time discovery.
The centerpiece of the afternoon will take place inside the historic Oxford Tobacco Research Station pack house. Every hour on the hour, attendees can witness an authentic, 15-minute mock tobacco auction conducted over twelve (12) piles of tobacco leaf. The high-energy chant of the auctioneer and the traditional leaf grading process will recreate the electric atmosphere that once filled local warehouse floors every autumn across the many Golden Leaf belts.
Distinguished guest speakers for the event include North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler, acclaimed tobacco historian and author Billy Yeargin, and Master of Ceremonies Mark Pace. In addition to inspiring remarks from agricultural leadership, the pack house will host a dedicated Granville County Historical Society exhibit detailing the region’s deep farming roots and historic artifacts.
For more information about “Granville Gold: Mock Tobacco Auction” or to support the Granville County Historical Society & Museum, please visit www.granvillehistory.org or call (919) 693-9701.
