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Finch’s International Plowing Match attracts thousands welcomed thousands of curious onlookers, as it opened its doors fromSeptember 22 to September 26.!e Ontario’s Plowmen’s As- sociation and the local organizing commit- tees partnered together to present the largest outdoor exhibition of its kind in Canada. “!is year’s event featured daily plowing competitions, quilt and craft shows, educa- tional programs, antique displays as well as numerous outdoor shows and activities,” explained Charles Leduc, President of the Ontario Plowmen’s Association.
FRANCIS RACINE francis.racine@eap.on.ca
Plowing matches have been part of the agricultural history in Ontario for well over a century. In the early days, they were spon- sored by agricultural societies, the "rst farm groups to be established. History records that, in 1846, when the "rst provincial exhibition was held in To- ronto, a special feature of the event was a plowing match. It took place on a farm on Yonge Street in the vicinity of St. Clair Ave- nue. !ese matches not gave farmers an op- portunity to display their skill in the handling of a walking plow.
For four days, Finch’s otherwise calm vil- lage streets were invaded by hundreds of cars. !e International Plowing Match (IPM)
!e event also served to celebrate the region’s past. “We are, indeed, proud of the agricultural roots of our forefathers, whether the aboriginal community of Akwesasne, the Loyalists who settled in Cornwall and the United Counties in 1784, the Francophones who arrived in large numbers throughout Cornwall and the Counties or our moremo- dern pioneers, the Dutch and Swiss farmers,” said IPM Chair Jim Brownell.
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