NIAGARA REGION – The International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM) is coming to the Niagara Region this fall offering a unique opportunity to showcase the community’s agricultural diversity and natural beauty.
The annual event is hosted in a different community each year and this year’s edition marks the first time in almost 100-years the Niagara communities will play host.
The last time an IPM was hosted in Niagara was 1926.
Renate McGillivray is one of the two local co-chairs for the event and she says the community is very excited to be having this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to invite visitors to their region.
“We have a lot to offer in this part of the province and we couldn’t be happier to be hosting this year’s event” says McGillivray.
The IPM was created by the OPA in 1913 to showcase farmers’ passion for the soil, agriculture and rural living and today is the largest event of its kind in Canada, attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year.
Plowing—whether by the old-fashioned horse-drawn plows or tractors using both traditional and modern, high-tech plows—remains a key feature of the five-day event, but in its over 100-year history the overall experience has evolved into a massive rural expo where the main goals continue to be agriculture education and an entertaining experience.
From Sept. 16 to Sept. 20 the West Niagara Fairground property will transform into the IPM Tented City – featuring daily entertainment, animal exhibits, demonstrations, local artisans, farm and rural goods and services, a rodeo and the plowing—featuring both tractor and horse-plowing competitions.
Plans are well underway in anticipation of the mid-September event but local organizers say there are still lots of opportunities to get involved whether as a participant, sponsor or volunteer.
“This is a once-in-a-generation event for our community and we want to make sure everyone who wants to be involved is,” says McGillivray.
The event will take place from Sept. 16 to 20.
To get involved as a volunteer, sponsor or exhibitor visit the IMP’s website at plowingmatch.org/IPM2025.
