With the 101st International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM) less than two weeks away, the pieces are coming together for another wonderfully successful celebration of agriculture and rural living.
“Excitement is building for this year’s Match, which is shaping up to be a great event for all,” says David Murray, president of the Ontario Plowmen’s Association, which partnered with a Local Committee in Chatham-Kent to organize IPM 2018. “The community in Chatham-Kent and beyond has gotten behind IPM 2018. It’s sure to be a memorable event.
“We invite you to join us and ‘Be A Part Of History’, as the slogan goes.”
The IPM is no regular plowing match! It has made history for a century and attracts people from throughout Ontario and adjoining American states - but not everyone knows that or understands all the 2018 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo in Chatham-Kent will offer. Today, IPM 2018 organizers and supporters, including community leaders from all levels of government, reached out to news media across Ontario and beyond to help get the good word out! Called IPM 2018 Media Day, today’s celebration on the IPM 2018 site launched the Official IPM 2018 Show Guide and recognized the partners who are making the full array of attractions possible.
From September 18 to 22, IPM 2018 will attract more than 80,000 visitors to the site in the Village of Pain Court, Municipality of Chatham-Kent. The IPM is a five-day agricultural celebration that will showcase our important agriculture, business and tourism activities. It will feature plowing competitions, a wide range of performers, displays, demonstrations, education and much more. Popular attractions will include rodeo, Team Farmall Dancing Tractors, the Canadian Cowgirls Precision Drill Team and a line-up of music acts such as the Canadian Celtic rock favourites MUDMEN.
Special events include an Auctioneers' Challenge (September 21), the Celebration of Excellence Gala (September 21) to present plowing awards and crown the 2018-19 Ontario Queen of the Furrow, and the BMO Ontario Farm Family Awards (September 22) celebrating accomplishments of eleven rural families.
An exciting new element has been added this year, thanks to a Celebrate Ontario grant. We’re looking to set several Guinness World Records, including Largest Egg and Spoon Race and Most People Bobbing for Apples at One Time.
Fortunately, all the information, schedules and a site map are in the Official IPM 2018 Show Guide, launched today and now available on the IPM 2018 website at www.plowingmatch.org/ipm2018 and in print at IPM 2018 itself. For ongoing news, updates and photos of events as they occur, visit the website and www.facebook.com/IPM2018.
To host IPM 2018, the Ontario Plowmen’s Association formed a partnership with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, with Ontario Mutual Insurance Association, BMO Bank of Montreal and Hydro One as presenting partners. In addition, the local IPM 2018 Executive Committee has recruited local sponsors.
“It takes money, services and infrastructure,” says IPM 2018 Co-chair Leon Leclair, “and Chatham-Kent’s business people have stepped up to provide for these needs in magnificent style. When you see their messages and logos recognized in signs and advertising, please join in thanking these generous sponsors for all they doing to make IPM 2018 a successful event.”
“Today is IPM 2018 Media Day,” adds Leclair, “and today we want to recognize the all media partners who have made the widespread promotion of the 2018 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo their concern.”
IPM 2018 Co-chair Darrin Canniff concludes, “More than a thousand volunteers − both rural and urban – and local and provincial sponsors and exhibitors have taken up the challenge of IPM 2018. We believe in working together. We believe in our communities, and we believe in the prosperity and family life that springs from this land. IPM 2018 is a grand celebration of our common purpose!”
2017-18 Ontario Queen of the Furrow Kailey Donaldson, who is soon to hand on her crown to a new queen, is joined by veteran Belgian plowing horses Nick and Jeff, and IPM 2018 Mascot Tobe Cobe Jr.
Horse plower Nelson Sage, with his plowing team Nick and Jeff, instruct Official Mascot Tobe Cobe Jr. in the fine aft of plowing with horses.
Source : plowingmatch