20 October 2025 Child-power on parade Workwear for women with sizes to suit Canadian Cowgirls parade past Brass band parade finale Farmland Awareness at the Match Kindred spirits at the Match New take on traditional quilts Steam powered and amazing! Quilting traditions on display Congratulations Competitors! Plowing Match Royalty WHAT IS OLD IS NEW AGAIN AT THE IPM ARTICLE BY JULIE HARLOW PHOTOS BY GLENN RUEGG & JULIE HARLOW The International Plowing Match (IPM) began in Ontario with the first provincial plowing match in 1846. The first inter-provincial and international plowing match was in 1913. It was held at Sunnybrook Farm, Toronto. Today the farm site is located right downtown and is the location of Sunnybrook Hospital. The IPM was and is organized by the Ontario Plowmen’s Association, established in 1911. The match originally featured horse-drawn plows but by 1916 was balanced with tractor competitions. The IPM has been an annual event, with interruptions for World Wars and the pandemic. Today it is a largescale celebration of agriculture and rural living, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to different host communities across Ontario each year. Thank you to the organizers and volunteers in beautiful Grassie, ON (Niagara Region) for hosting the 2025 plowing match! QUILTING TRADITION In the early days of the 19th century in Canada, quilts were an essential, they were used as blankets and even window coverings and furniture substitutes. Patchwork quilts were also a way of making use of every piece of material, including worn-out clothing, demonstrating the resourcefulness and creativity of farm women. Quilting provided an avenue for women’s artistic expression, creating beauty and color in simple farmhouses and soddies. As well as telling personal and family history, with each square building a material story. From families to communities, quilting worked to foster relationships in communities via the quilting bee. Today many quilters feel a strong connection to the past and want to keep the traditional art of quilting alive for future generations. As we go digital, there’s a renewed appreciation for handmade items, personal craftsmanship, and the effort involved in creating something by hand. PLOWING MATCH Senator Rob Black on the OFA wagon.
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