Allen Hills of Ashton keeps an eye on the judge as he competes in the Ottawa Carleton Plowmen’s Association (OCPA) Plowing Match held on Aug. 23 – 24, 2024, in Sarsfield, hosted by Ferme Chrétien located at 2808 Dunning Road. Caroline Taylor Courtesy Photo
SARSFIELD – The weather cooperated, and despite the somewhat muddy fields there was a good turnout for the 2024 Ottawa Carleton Plowmen’s Association (OCPA) Plowing Match on Aug. 23 and 24. The hosts for the OCPA were Ferme Chrétien at 2808 Dunning Road near Sarsfield, On.
The two-day event dates from 1911 with Don Good, president of the OCPA, explaining the aim of the plowing matches is to demonstrate the art and history of plowing fields. Vintage Iron was on the site with a display of antique tractors from our agricultural background.
“Our plowing match was a resounding success again this year,” said Don Good, OCPA President, in a press release from OPCA following the event.
“Our thanks are extended to our hosts, Ferme Chrétien, owned by Natalie Chrétien, Christian Baumgartner, William Baumgartner and Marguerite Hébert, as well as to our volunteers, plowers, exhibitors and sponsors.” commented Don Good, OCPA President in a press release following the event.
During an interview on the day of the VIP Plowing match, Good mentioned participants gaining points which will enable them to participate in the International Plowing Match (IPM) and Rural Expo, and in some cases take part in the national and international plowing matches. The 2024 IPM planned for Sept. 19-23 in Kawartha Lakes at the Lindsay Exhibition Grounds.
The VIP Plowing Competition was held on Fri., Aug. 23, with 16 local VIP’s plowing a furrow and following a light lunch. In a press release from the OCPA, it was noted there were 16 competitors in the event as well as providing winners in the OCPA. Members of the press and a 10-year-old, Luella Spears also plowed a furrow in addition to local VIP’s.
Taking the top spot was Caroline Etter, President of the Sarsfield Community Association who received a bouquet of flowers and an award featuring a tractor. In second and third spots were former MPP for Carleton-Gloucester Brian Coburn and Doug Thompson who had served on the Ottawa Council as Councillor for Osgoode Ward for many years.
The OCPA continued Sat., Aug. 24 with “23 plowers using both modern and vintage tractors as well as horses to vie for titles in the OCPA Plowing Match.” Allen Carruthers from Grafton was the judge for the event, with Lawrence Payne of Manotick and Ray St. Denis of Navan serving as stewards.
Following the event, there was an awards celebration held on site. Allen Hills of Ashton placed “top-of-class in the 2-Furrow Mounted Plow, open slip required, 21 years and over; Best Plowed Land (Overall); Best Plowed Land Conventional; and in Classes 2 – 9 – Best Open Split and Best Crown.” Hills shared the CPC-16 Award, with Chris Allen, which is warded “for competitors with conventional and reversible plows who have accumulated enough points to compete at the IPM with the potential eligibility to compete at the Canadian and World Plowing Championships.”
Winner of the Antique Tractor Class – open split required was Jean-Guy Thivierge of Hammond received an award as the Oldest Plow Person in the field as well as an award for the Best Finish in Classes 2-9. Jean-Marc Dessaint of Sarsfield won the Antique Tractor Class – 1946-1950 (trail plows) as well as for Best Antique Plow Person. “Denis Bourbonnais of Gatineau got top honours for the Antique Mounted Plow Class.”
In the horse plowing division, Samuel Bourgeon of Maxville won the Jointer Plow Amateur and Champion Horse Plow Person classes, with the Sulk Plow Class won by Glenn Conway of Chute-à-Blondeau.
Stephen Manley of Berwick won in the 3-Furrow Plow (21 years and older) – open split required with the Best Female Plow Person awarded to Nicole Calande of Alfred and “Luc Roy from St. Eugène for Oldest Plowing Tractor with his 1940 Massey Harris – 101 Super.”
