A well-attended IPM
Throngs of visitors attended the 2019 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo in Verner, West Nipissing, from the first day to the last. Courtesy photo
For a description of each Class and Group, visit www.plowingmatch.org/plowing/plowing-prizes. Winners (W) and Reserve (R) were: Class 1: Group 1–W-Brad Linton (Rosemeath); R-Terry Linton (Rosemeath); Group 2–W-Eric Linton (Stirling); R-Dave Reid (Belleville); Group 3–W-Dave Lambie (Elmville); R-Steven Bickle (Bobcaygeon); Group 4–W-Julie Nellis (Owen Sound); R-Scott Gilpin (Thornton). Class 2: Group 1–W-Austin Brodhaecker (Ayr); R-Alex Cameron (Owen Sound); Group 2–W-Hailey Gruber (Richmond, Minnesota); R-Matthew Stirling (Pain Court); Group 3–W-Jeremy DeGeer (Manilla); R-Katie Davenport (Chatsworth); Group 4–W-Jim Ferguson (Sunderland); R-Melvin Davis (Ennismore); Class 3: Group 1–W-Riley Terpstra (Atwood); R-Darryl Terpstra (Atwood); Group 2–W-Brandon Crow (Thamesville); R-Anthony Bertrand (St. Mary’s); Class 4: No competitors; Class 5: Group 1–W-Gene Gruber (Richmond, Minnesota); R-Brian Davenport (Owen Sound); Group 2–W-Kevin Albrecht (Marion, S. Dakota); R-Daryl Hostrawser; Class 6: Group 1–W-Ken Clarke (Beaverton); R-Jean-Marie Dessaint (Sarsfield); Group 2–W-Tom Thede (Port Elgin); Group 3–W-Nicole Galand (Alfred); R-Jim Cox (Innerkip); Group 4–W-Douglas MacRobbie (Guelph); R-Ed Olesen (Oakville); Class 7: Group 1–W-Brandon Woelfle (Chesley); R-Alex Cameron (Owen Sound); Group 2–W-Megan Devries (Dresden); R-Rebekah Ball (Dresden); Group 3–W-Austin Brodhaecker (Owen Sound); R-Matthew Sterling (Pain Court); Group 4–W-Ben Henderson (Cambridge); R-Brent Bannerman (Monkton); Group 5–W-Jordan Shortreed (Walton); R-Ethan Jones (Brockville).
Courtesy photo
VERNER, WEST NIPISSING – The 2019 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM) is in the history books. This celebration of agriculture and rural living came to a close Sat., Sept. 21, following five straight days of sunshine and warmth.
“Our primary strategic objective when we set out to create this was to host the greatest plowing match in the history of mankind. I’m proud to say … I think we’ve done it,” said IPM 2019 Chair Neil Fox, expressing gratitude for the “wonderful, magical volunteers” who were involved with the event. “They put in so many hours, so much blood, sweat and tears (into this).”
More than two years of planning went into hosting IPM 2019, with more than 1,200 volunteers helping bring it all together.
Among the many event highlights were a visit from Amber Marshall, star of CBC’s Heartland; a performance from Justin Tyler, runner-up in the 2019 Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase; about 150 BMO Plowing Competition participants; and the crowning of Wellington County’s Heidi Frey as the 2019/2020 Ontario Queen of the Furrow.
The IPM also featured dozens of entertainers – largely local talent – and demonstrations, such as fashion shows, spread out among three stages. Another major attraction was the full 450 vendor/exhibitor spaces offering a variety of large and small equipment, rural living items, an array of food and much more.
“What a wonderful week we’ve had here,” commented Sheila Marshall, president of the Ontario Plowmen’s Association, the parent hosts of the IPM. “They say if you build it, people will come. And as we have found this week, people have come … from all across the province of Ontario. “This was possible because of all the hard work of the volunteers” she said.
As is tradition, IPM 2019 concluded with the passing of the flags to representatives of the next IPM, to be held in Lindsay, Kawartha Lakes, from Oct. 14 to 17, 2020.
At the closing ceremony, host landowner Daniel Olivier (right) presents the Canadian flag to Mayor of Kawartha Lakes Andy Letham (left), where the next IPM will be held in 2020.
Courtesy photo
“What an event you put on here in Verner. You should give yourselves a round of applause,” said Kawartha Lakes Mayor Andy Letham. “Thanks for having us up here. Thanks for the incredible job you did and I hope to see you all down in Lindsay in the City of Kawartha Lakes next year.”
In addition to the efforts of volunteers, the IPM would not be possible without support from the business community. That list can be found on the IPM website. Contributions were also provided by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and the Municipality of West Nippissing. For more information about the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo, as well as the Ontario Plowmen’s Association, visit www.plowingmatch.org.
To check out a variety of photos and video from IPM 2019, visit www.plowingmatch.org/ipm2019/visitors/media-gallery/.
