The 75th Wellington County Plowing Match was a special one for Art Davis.
Not only was the Aug. 23 event held on his farm north of Rockwood, but he also had the pleasure of coaching his grandson Jackson Rayner, 10, a junior contestant.
“He’s here for the fun, and he’s learning all the time,” said Davis, a director with the Wellington County Plowmen’s Association, which hosts the event.
Indeed, it appeared that all 27 competitors were there for the fun, a chance to greet old friends and feel the satisfaction of continuing a Wellington competition that dates back to 1913. Top prize is $75 in most classes, along with a year’s worth of bragging rights.
“We get a good response from farmers,” said Walter Trachsel, president of the association. “Plowing is becoming a lost art, so we encourage young people to get involved. We are preserving a historic tradition. People really care about their equipment.”
Antique plows and tractors accounted for almost half of the entries, including that of Keith Reid of Mapleton. He bought his plow new in 1954.
Others, like John Dekroon, who raises livestock and grows cash crops in Perth County, have only taken up competitive plowing in recent years. He operates a walking plow powered by his horses Shadow and Sophie.
Some are especially proud to show off their equipment, including Ed Olesen of Oakville with his Porsche diesel tractor.
The county match is an opportunity for competitors to qualify for the International Plowing Match (IPM), which was hosted by Wellington in Minto in 2016. Since 1913, the Wellington County Plowmen’s Association has hosted five IPMs.
Furrows are judged on factors such as straightness, uniformity of cut and coverage of grass and stubble. Plowing is normally employed only at small farms – large ones use a discing process.
The rankings will not be announced until the plowing match banquet at the Alma Hall on Nov. 2. The Queen of the Furrow (competition open to women aged 18 to 25) and the Princess of the Furrow (girls 12 to 16) will also be crowned at the event.
The current Queen is Katrina Martin of Fergus and the current Princess is Tate Driscoll of Moorefield.
Martin was on hand Thursday to greet competitors and observers, along with Ontario Queen Kailey Donaldson
“It has been great – a chance to meet a lot of people, to be more connected to the community and to share my passion for agriculture,” said Martin.
There are three contestants for the 2018-19 Wellington Queen crown: Heidi Frey, Ashley Ferraro and Charlene Elliott. They participated in the plowing match, and the top scorer will get an award separate from the overall contest.
They will deliver speeches, answer an impromptu question and be interviewed by a panel of judges before the recipient of queen crown is decided.
Princess competitors will give a speech and have an interview with judges, but they do not have to plow or answer an impromptu question.
For more information on the plowing match, visit wellingtonplowmen.com.
