1945

The Ingersoll Junior Farmers held their 11th annual plow match at the H.R. McBeth & Son farm near Salford on Wednesday Oct.17th (Lot15 Conc.3 Dereham township). Harry Blackman won the open class; Cecil Howard, Ingersoll, won the active Junior Farmers class. In the no handling class, Fred Bertrand was first, Glen Bartram, Salford, second.
In the openclass, 17 years and under, Bob Coventry, Salford, won. Murray Long , Salford,won the amateur open class.
10 inch bottom tractor class:
1 Bill Wliford,Salford
2 Murray McBeth,Salford 3 Ken Rath, Mossley 4 John Johnson,Harrietsville
Amateur tractor class : 1 Charlie Shelton,Ingersoll 2 Beverly Long,Salford
Furrow Tractor Class: Harry Ellery,Mt.Elgin
Youngest Plowmen class: Murray Long ,Salford.
Special mention was made of the winner in this class by the judge, Mr.Alex Black of Guelph who commended the splendid work of this eleven year old plowman.

Sentinel Review Oct.18, 1945

In 1945 ,Leslie B.Curry resigned as treasurer  of Oxford County Plowmen's but continued to act as auditor.At the Sept.29th  meeting the invitation of Mr.H.E.Longworth to hold the match at his farm was accepted.The following committees were set up; Plowing teams- Doug Start,Geo.Innes,H.E.Longworth,E.V.Kennedy
Grounds-W.Grenzebach,D.Start,Geo.Bell,Jno.Hargreaves,F.Howard,F.Bertrand,Clair Peers,H.Hammond, E.V.Kennedy.
Machinery-Geo.Matheson,Jno.Hargreaves, W.A.Muir,Murray Gray,Wilfred Corp,W.L;and Will Sutherland
Educational Exhibits-Chas.Swartz,Leslie Curry,Sam Banbury,Allan Thomson,Gordon Ross
Lunch Committee-Harper Hammond,H.E.Longworth,Budd Karn,Herb Cody,Ernest Greenly;Mr. Hammond was appointed to interview the Blowes Home and School Club regarding lunch.
Prize list-W.Grenzebach, H.Hammond, E.V.Kennedy, N.Shelton,G.R.Green, A.D.Robinson,and Jno.Hargreaves.
Horse Show Committee-H.Hammond, J.E.Nephew, Geo.Innes, H.E.Longworth,and R.J.Forbes. Parking and Traffic- Constable John Clark.
Clair Peers will supply three township road men.
Norman Shelton was appointed treasurer. Two new classes were added, a wide furrow class and one for row crop tractors.

Sentinel Review Oct.19, 1945
The prize list committee under G.R.Green's direction had adverts in the Ingersoll Tribune, Tavistock Gazette, Norwich Gazette; Woodstock paper had a full page story with the prize list.

Albert Roberts Silver King tractor is pictured above pulling a Massey-Harris plow. This tractor has been restored by Cliff and Fanny Bruce, Howard Bruce; it is in Robert's Warehouse on Tecumseh Street in Woodstock.

If the reader wonders where H.E. Longworth farm is located, you are walking on it every time you go into Walmart Plaza in Woodstock,every time you pick up an ink cartridge for your computer at Staples,and do you wonder if M.W.Staples,who judged the horse show in 1945 had any connection to the Staples store.It was one of the last pieces of rich black earth of the Longworth farm to be covered over in concrete.The only reminder that it was Longworth property is the Longworth Lane leading to Oxford Milkway Transport.

There were 41 entries;-17 in the horse classes, 24 in the tractor classes.The weather was cold and windy.The large tent, rented from A.D. Enticknapp(for $50),containing exhibits,was filled to capacity all afternoon with spectators.
The farm machinery display, which included exhibits by the Oxford Farmers Co-operative, Lefler Bros., Bursaw Tractor Co.,Murray Bros.,Schell Transport Co.,Geo.Matheson and other miscellaneous exhibits were arranged by Mr.Matheson.
The Woodstock Agriculture Society donated $100 to be used as prize money for the horse show.      The W.C.I. Junior Red Cross conducted the tag day,which,after expenses were paid amounted to $81.30.The efficiency of the whole match was enhanced by Jack Simpson's loud speaker and Jack Cockburn of Blenheim township making announcements.
Entry fees of $1 each, local sponsors, and Oxford County council's $400 donation helped a lot too.

Sentinel-Review,Wednesday, October 24, 1945

R.G.Brown Open Winner At Oxford Plowing Match

Keen Competition at Annual Contest- Verne Morely's Clydesdales Adjudged Championship Team. R.G.Brown of Galt, perennial winner at top ranking plowing matches in Ontario was yesterday adjudged winner of the open horse drawn class in sod at the annual Oxford county plowing match. Second in this class was Elmer Armstrong, R.R.2, St.Paul's, with Emerson Green, Ohswekin, third and Alfred Dickie, Jerseyville, fourth.
Other winners were as follows:
Sod, (horse-drawn), Oxford County only- Fred Howard, R.R.3, Woodstock;Harry Blackman,R.R.4,Ingersoll.
Sod, ( horse-drawn ), Oxford County amateurs-Fred Bertrand,R.R.3,Woodstock;Cecil Howard,R.R.4,Ingersoll;Bruce Amos,R.R.4,Ingersoll;and Lorne Wilson,Ingersoll.
Sod, ( horse-drawn), Oxford County, 20 years and under-Russell Carter,R.R.7,Woodstock;Harold Masson,R.R.1,Woodstock;Joe Garfat,R.R.1,Woodstock.
Sod, (horse- or tractor-drawn), Oxford County, (first attempt at a match)-Harold Patrick, R.R.4, Ingersoll.
Sod, (horse-drawn), open, no handling-A.D.Robinson, R.R.4, Ingersoll; Dick Marriage,R.R.4,Woodstock;Glen Bartram,Salford.
Sod, (tractor-drawn), open- Ryse Bacher, Hagersville; Kenneth Rath, Mossley.
Sod, (tractor), two furrow, Oxford only-Albert Roberts, R.R.2, Woodstock; Murray McBeth,Salford; Jim Richardson,R.R.4,Woodstock.
Tractor, three furrow, Oxford only,-Kenneth Howard, R.R.3, Woodstock; George Masson,R.R.1,Woodstock; Don McKay,Woodstock.
Tractor, two or three furrow only, not less than eleven inch furrow,-Jack Hargreaves, Beachville; Gilbert Barron,R.R.2, Woodstock.
Tractor,rowcrop, Oxford only-George Thornton,Woodstock,(in his first competition);Carl Pullen,R.R.1,Beachville;E.M.Nethercott,R.R.1,Woodstock.
Tractor,two furrow, amateur,Oxford only,first competition,-Robert Buchanan,Oxford Centre;Harold Foreman,R.R.1,Beachville;Bruce Masson,R.R.1,Woodstock;Norman Shelton,R.R.7,Woodstock;Peter Smith,R.R.2,Tavistock;and Robert Walters,R.R.7,Woodstock.
Tractor,two furrow,amateur class,open to Oxford county-Robert Buchanan,Oxford Centre;Harold Foreman,R.R.1,Beachville;Jack Nethercott,R.R.1,Woodstock;Bruce Masson,R.R.1,Woodstock;Frank Elsom,Woodstock;and James Innes,R.R.4,Woodstock.

HORSE

A Horse show was held, prizes awarded as follows:
Best draft team, Clydesdale-Verne Morley, Norwich; L.G.Sinclair,R.R.4,Ingersoll; Hugh Baird,R.R.4,Woodstock.
Best draft team, Percheron or Belgian-A.D.Robinson, Ingersoll; Hershall Tuttle, Woodstock
Best wagon team-Russell Massson, Woodstock;-Dick Marriage, Woodstock;Herb Cody,Woodstock.
Best plow team-J.W.Innes, Woodstock; Verne Morley, Norwich; Herb Cody, Woodstock
Championship team-Verne Morley, Norwich, with a team of registered Clydesdale mares which have won many prizes in the show ring this fall.

SPECIAL AWARDS

The Salada Tea Company Special for the best land in the jointer sod classes,horses only,plowed by a resident of the county,valued at $10,went to Fred Howard,R.R.3,Woodstock,who placed first in Oxford county open class,(horse-drawn). A prize for first place in the class with the largest entry,a sandwich plate,silver deposit on crystal, valued at $18 and provided by the T.Eaton Company,was awarded to George Thornton,who placed first in class 12,row crop tractor class,in seven tractor drawn entries. The John Hargreaves special for the best plowed land with a row crop tractor, consisting of five bushels of registered oats, was also awarded to George Thornton. Open to Oxford county residents for the best plowed land with a tractor,the Howard Lefler special went to Albert Roberts,R.R.2,Woodstock.The prize is valued at $10.Mr.Roberts place first in the two furrow class.
The Ed Fowell prize for second place in class two, open to county plowmen (horse drawn) was awarded to Harry Blackman, R.R.4, Ingersoll.The award is valued at $8. The prize for the youngest plowman went to 12 -year-old Jimmie Innes who manned his dad's tractor in the amateur class to take sixth place.Oldest plowman, who received a $2 bill, was A.D.Robinson of R.R.4, Ingersoll. Between 40 and 50 units of machinery, varying in size from the giant self-propelled combines with 12 foot headers to small gasoline and electric motors were on display.Huge crowds of interested spectators crowded around H.W.Kitchen and G.Webb of the mechanics department of O.A.C.who demonstrated the dynamometer.
Tents on the 14 acre field carried displays which were accorded interest by the spectators,among which were photographers and data illustrating the proposed Thames Valley conservation scheme which offered information on various types of erosion; a forestry exhibit  from the Forestry Station at St.Williams,in charge of James McDonald, which offered information on reforestation; the permanent pasture exhibit placed on display by W.J.Kellan of the crops,seeds and weeds branch,gave information relating to permanent pasture, and samples of sod taken from Oxford county farms of Henry Bent,Art Hayward,Alec Muir and George DeMontmorency were shown; and a Hydro display, procured through the Hydro Electric Power Commission through the Rural Hydro office was also shown.
Provincial Constables John Clark and Walter Marsland, as well as township officials of East Oxford, Mike McMahon and his assistants handled traffic. Norman McLeod, R.R.7, Galt judged the plowing. Executive of the plowing match were: Honorary presidents K.R.Daniel,M.P., T.R.Dent,M.L.A.,Alex D.McCorquodale,Warden;W.Grenzebach, past president; president, Harper Hammond; vice president,E.V.Kennedy; secretary,G.R.Green; treasurer,Norman Shelton;directors,John Hargreaves, E.M.Nethercott,Murray Armstrong,Dick Marriage,George Matheson,Bill Sutherland, James Livesey, Murray Gray, Douglas Hart, H.E.Longworth,Sam Banbury,Calvin McKay,Fred Bertrand,Ben Ball,A.D.Robinson, George Innes, Lorne Richardson, Murray McBeth, Fred Howard, W.A.Muir,and Albert Roberts.
F.G.Jackson audited the books (November 3rd, 1945)

The Annual Meeting of December 12, 1945

Only $8,of the $100 donated by the Woodstock Ag.Society was left over from the horse show.It was paid to the two men who owned the teams of the first class who did not win a prize.                         The machinery exhibit of 1945 included over $25,000 worth of stock.                                                          Mr. Hargreaves suggested for next year that the T.Eaton Special be offered for the best land in all the three furrow tractor classes, and the Lefler Prize be offered for all two furrow tractor classes. He said the amateur class should receive some further consideration,as it was hardly fair for a man to compete against a boy in this class.He also stated that it was hardly fair for our men to go to other matches  and plow in the open class,and not plow in the open class in this county,and our rules should be changed accordingly. W.Grenzebach suggested that anyone winning three first prizes in the open County Class, in either horse or tractor class,should automatically move up to first class. Mr.E.V.Kennedy suggested that two judges be used, in order that the results might be known before the people left the grounds.Mr.Kennedy and all the executive complimented Mr.Longworth for being an excellent host for the Plowing Match;he had left nothing undone to make the event a success.Several executives broached the subject of securing the Provincial match again in Oxford; Hargreaves suggested getting an application in at once,to hold our place in line. The East Zorra Plowmen's Association (who held their first plowing match in 1915),and their final meeting held in Hickson,Feb 7th,1918,still had funds in their treasury. The remaining members of the East Zorra group,-Chas. Rowe, Fred Goble, Frank Core (secretary-treasurer),and Wilfred Grenzebach presented the following resolution,unanimously accepted by Oxford.

RESOLUTION

The remaining members of East Zorra Plowmen's have decided to disband and contribute the remaining funds in the treasury to the Oxford County Plowmens Association,to be used to purchase a trophy to be competed for annually at the Oxford County Plowing Match.This trophy to be awarded for the best plowed land by an Oxford County Plowman,with either a team or tractor.The East Zorra Plowmen's Memorial Trophy Annual Competition in Oxford County was won by:

Fred Howard in 1946
Harry Blackman in 1947
Albert Roberts in1948
Roscoe Buck in 1949
Albert Roberts in 1950 and '51
no entries in 1952
George Shearer in 1953
no entries in 1954
Orville Fried in 1955
Cecil Wells in 1956
no match in 1957
Jack Hargreaves in 1958
Bob Mitchell in 1959

Cecil Wells won it every year from 1960 to1964 inclusive and it remained in his possession for the next 50 years.
Mr.Aurthur Lockhart, Blandford Township extended an invitation to hold the 1946 match on his farm. E.V.Kennedy moved up as president; James Livesey vice president; John Smith, Brownsville, was a new director. The delegates nominated to attend the Provincial Conference in Toronto, to invite the Provincial match to Oxford were E.V.Kennedy and Arlington Robinson.