With nearly four years of planning and preparation in the rear view mirror, organizers of the 2016 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo are ready for the payoff: a week-long celebration of agriculture and rural lifestyles.
“The main service tents are all up and they’ll be starting on the exhibits tents soon and just every day when you drive in here it’s literally exploding from the inside and the more it does the more exciting it gets,” said IPM 2016 chair Ron Faulkner at a media day held at the Harriston area match site on Sept. 7.
The IPM, which runs Sept. 20 to 24, will be held on the farm of hosts Earl and Ann Schneider.
The Schneiders’ 250-acre property will be the site of much of the activity, including the 100-acre tented city, which will house over 500 vendors and displays as well as several entertainment venues. An additional 1,200 acres donated by other area land owners will also be used for the match.
With anticipated crowds at anywhere from 75,000 to 100,000 people, the IPM is a major event on the fall calendar in Ontario. Whatever the eventual number, Faulkner says attendees won’t be disappointed.
“We feel there is something for everyone,” he said. “One of the main pillars of this event is, of course, the reason for the event and it’s an international plowing competition … There’s many, many different competitions: horse and mule plowing, tractor plowing, antique tractor plowing, VIP plowing and we even have junior plowing.”
The horse competitions are particularly entertaining, says Faulkner, who is also deputy mayor of the Town of Minto.
“You’ve got to see the plowing … just to demonstrate how perfectly trained these horses are.”
The chair also ran down a lengthy list of entertainment on tap for the event, including:
– the RCMP Musical Ride on Sept. 20 and 21;
– Knights of Valour Jousting from Sept. 22 to 24;
– various musical acts including Brittany Brodie, Western Swing Authority and Ty Baynton; and
– the Dodge Ram Rodeo daily throughout the match.
“There’s entertainment daily so please come and visit us,” said Faulkner.
Other attractions include a lifestyles tent, quilting display and an antique area.
Faulker said over 160 “championship” quilts and approximately 600 antique items will be on display in the latter two areas.
“It’s really going to be something to see,” Faulkner stated.
The Wellington County Showcase tent is expected to garner plenty of attention and will feature:
– a zipline experience;
– Wellington entertainment stage;
– artisan demonstration stage;
– Wellington farmers’ market;
– member municipality features – experiences presented by each municipality;
– Made in Wellington, displays of Wellington County products;
– Tour the Taps of Wellington – local drink and food sampling;
– Careers in Agriculture fair; and
– Future Farmers Night.
“We’ve had amazing support from County of Wellington and the Town of Minto as hosting partners to the IPM. I can’t say enough about our two municipalities, they’ve just been fantastic,” said Faulkner.
Minto Mayor George Bridge, also warden of the county, said, “We’re so proud of the fact that we’re able to showcase the County of Wellington and the Town of Minto to the rest of the world.
“It’s a great opportunity.”
For more information on the IPM go to www.plowingmatch.org.
