IPM 2014 shaping up to be a success

Sep 18, 2014

It is only day three of the International Plowing Match (IPM) and Rural Expo, held in Simcoe County, and the event is already showing signs of success.

The IPM welcomed visitors on Tuesday for the opening ceremonies where the premier, members of provincial parliament and area politicians gathered to offer remarks and participate in VIP plowing.

(Photo: Premier Kathleen Wynne addressing the crowd at the IPM on Tuesday, September 16)

The first day of the plowing match is the only day that the Ontario Legislature closes, allowing party leaders and MPPs to participate in IPM festivities. All three party leaders were in attendance, with caucus members participating in the parade and each party showing off their partisan colours on three separate floats. Jennifer Jones was the parade marshal and also spoke about her experience curling in the Olympics.

On day two of the IPM, attendees enjoyed good weather. Some of the main attractions included the Canadian Cowgirls, the Dancing Tractors, and the Martels Rock and Roll show. According to IPM organizers, the street of Tented City was crowded with visitors enjoying a variety of vendors, displays and demonstrations.

New features this year include the Tasty, Fresh, Locally Grown Tent - which showcase the diversity of locally grown food, while the Future Farming Tent covers more of the production aspect of agriculture - examining subjects such as future crop choices to succession planning.

The biggest highlight for day three of the IPM is a special visit from Liberal Party of Canada Leader Justin Trudeau, accompanied by Liberal agriculture critic Mark Eyking and their provincial colleague, Jeff Leal, who serves as minister of agriculture for Ontario.

(Photo: IPM volunteers welcoming visitors to Simcoe County)

(Photo: Antique machinery on display at the IPM).

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.