Freshly plowed dirt
This past week marked the 100th anniversary of the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM), which was held in Simcoe County from Sept. 16 to Sept. 20, 2014. All week long, the IPM attracted many visitors, ranging from competitive plowmen to curious onlookers.
The IPM is organized each year by the Ontario Plowmen’s Association (OPA), which was first formed in 1911. Each year, the OPA and a local plowing association work in conjunction to organize the IPM, a five-day event that consists of farm equipment set ups, livestock demonstrations, and outdoor concerts, to name a few. Of course, the most sought after events to watch during the IPM are the different classes of plowing. The classes range from traditional forms of plowing, like those with horse or mule, to the methods used today with tractors. The IPM draws out competitors of all ages as well; there is a junior plowing class set out for those not quite old enough to compete in the regular plowing classes.
The IPM does not just bring out competitive plowmen, but competitive “plowwomen” as well. One special event held at the IPM every year is the Queen of the Furrow contest. This event allows each of the individual county queens to compete for the provincial title of Queen of the Furrow, which is a yearlong position. This past year, Celie Diebold, a first-year student in the Ontario Agriculture College (OAC), reigned as queen. She passed her crown onto Laura Price, a recent graduate of the OAC, this past weekend. “The Queen of the Furrow program gives young women in agriculture a chance to network, meet new friends, and speak up in the agriculture world,” said Diebold. “I have had an amazing year travelling Ontario to promote the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo as well as just agriculture in general. I look forward to what the agriculture sector holds for me in the future and I cannot wait to help feed the world.”
The IPM is not only an event for those already involved with agriculture, but also a great opportunity for those curious about agriculture and what it has to offer. The 2015 IPM will be held close to the town of Finch, located near the neighbouring counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengary.
I wonder if the horse and mule plowmen (or women) also use the old ploughs in use “back then” before the legendary John Deere invented the self-scouring plough (an only later went into tractors etc.)?