1966

The same slate of officers was installed for 1966. Orville Freid came on as a new director, with John Summerhayes, Drumbo, together with Don Gourlay, Green Acres Equpment, and Albert Roberts.
Jack Hargreaves passed away as a result of a farm acccident (Feb.2nd).
Ed Hansuld went to the OPA convention in Toronto.
Mr. Summerhayes mentioned some problems the Blenheim Association had, while directors there canvassed for donations. Oxford designated John Hargreaves, Ed Eddy, and President Art Dale to approach County Council for a grant of at least $600, as usual.
The Braemar Ladies served a hot meal and prepared 47 lunches. County Council members received complimentary dinners.
More classes for out of county competitors and the use of wider furrow plows were recommended. The match date was planned for Oct. 8, at the farm of Fred McKay, Lot 10, Conc.8, West Zorra, 9th Line, west side of the road. Secretary Leroy Scott just had to walk out his lane and cross the road; Roger, his son, drove the tractor and plow to compete. The date was later changed to Oct. 5 to give young winners a chance to prepare for the Provincial competition at Seaforth, Oct. 11-14. Tavistock Gazette printed 200 posters and stickers (notifying the date change). The event was advertised in the Shopping News, Tavistock Gazette, and via CKOX radio. Implement dealers were invited to participate in the utility class, (good PR to sell their big plows). Food prices and land expropriation dominated the news throughout October 1966.
Five dams were proposed for the Grand River.

S.R. Mon. Oct.2nd, pg.9- 30 Hunters Jump the Gun, Flock to Unfinished Dam
Duck hunting season opened (til Dec.15).
Even though no trespassing signs were posted there was concern for construction workers, still at the site, being shot.
Gordon Pittock was chairman of the conservation authority at the same time as he was M.P. for Oxford. Accused of conflict of interest, he relinquished the position of chairperson. The dams did little for conservation or agriculture. They were playgrounds for the urbanites.
In 2018 the Fanshawe dam near London is planned to be dismantled to return the Thames to its natural state. The government should have heeded the advice of Edmund Zavitz decade's earlier (See 1932-34). It sounds like 2018 ̶ the government pushing for high speed rail through precious farmland to appease the wants of Torontonians. The more things change the more they stay the same.
Highland Park School, north of Embro, was still under construction. West Zorra students had to use their old one room 8 grade schools for the balance of October.
The enthusiasm of host farmer Fred McKay was apparent in the S.Review article of Oct.4, pg 9; the hot meal on a cold day, the ladies plow class, Ross Pullen and Terry Richardson being selected to represent Oxford at Seaforth, tThe Japanese contestant, all made the 23rd Annual Oxford Plow Match. Ross Pullen had represented Oxford with Gerald Hofstetter the previous year (1965) at York County, Massey Ferguson Farms near Milliken.

S.Review, Wed., Oct 5, pg.13; Japanese Visitor Tries Old Rural Custom: Plowing
Home was never like this. Not when home is a three acre farm in northern Japan, 36-year oldToshio Sato said shortly after he completed his plot of land in the mounted plow class at the 23rd Annual Oxford Plowing Match. Toshio grows rice and vegetables, and also raises some poultry for his own use on his small farm. He came to Canada in April on a Canadian Japanese government's grant to expand his knowledge of agriculture. He has been working on the Woodstock farm of Ed Eddy.
In contrast to the large farms in Canada, the average size of a Japanese farm is about two acres. The government uses its power to control farm size so that no individual has the opportunity to get an excess of land. Too much land in the hands of an individual could prove detrimental to the country; this, and the high cost of land ($1000 per acre). An 8-horsepower tractor is sufficient for his rice and vegetable farm.

The following excerpts from the S.Review give good coverage of the plowing circuit for 1966, of Oxford, IPM Seaforth, and Blenheim matches.

1965

Art Dale moved up as President; 1st Vice-President, Alex Henderson; 2nd Vice-President, Ronald Hutcheson; Ed Eddy became Oxford Provincial Director; Art Dale and Doug Start attended the OPA convention held Feb.22^nd and 23^rd.
The match date was planned for Oct. 29^th on the farm of Dr. W. Butt, 11th Line, East Zorra, Conc.10, west side (kitty-corner the farm show site). This was the same spot it was held in 1944. The plows and machinery were getting bigger; Class 9, utility class was changed to read: four or more furrows, 14 inches or more wide (instead of 11 or 12).
Each competitor had to plow three passes across a field; they did not have to do a strike out or finish. The quality of plowing was deteriorating. The wide bottom plows were made to accommodate the cash crop farmers who grew continuous grain corn.

1964

Howard J. Hallock was appointed auditor at the Annual Meeting held Dec.21st, 1963, when Leslie B. Curry retired. Leroy Scott was appointed treasurer. The bank balance was $289.41, up from $48.24 the previous year. Complaints were received regarding the $700 grant request from County Council. Re-elected were President Ed Eddy; first Vice-Pres. Art Dale and 2nd Vice-Pres. Robert Ewen. Mr. Ed Eddy stated we must concentrate on bringing in more junior plowmen. The entire Eddy family got involved and was instrumental in bringing new life to the association. Elizabeth Eddy, the youngest member, became the first Oxford Queen of the Furrow (in 1976). Bill Eddy, the eldest son, was coached by Bob Ewen (as well as his father, grandfather). Bob Ewen's farm was on the south side of the Governor's Road (#2 Hwy) between the 10th and 11th line where the horse barns are now. Don Taylor was secretary. Four new directors, Bob Buchanan, Stan Griffin, Les Pullen, Merle Coleman, were added to Ron Hutcheson, Doug Start, Ed Hansuld, E.V. Kennedy, Lorne Richardson, W.O. Grenzebach, Alex Henderson, Tom Pellow, Gordon Dyer, Wilfred Corp, and John Hargreaves, bringing the total to 15 (as required by OPA rules). Ron Hutcheson, in his role as weed inspector, was curious to know what a group of farmers were doing out in the middle of a field (staking out). So he went to look and got hired as a director. More hands make light work. Gordon Pittock, the new M.L.A. was named honorary president instead of Gordon Innes. The construction of a dam on the Thames River, north of Woodstock, and naming it the Pittock Dam was ridiculed by ruralites (naming it Pittock's puddle). The government had gone dam crazy.

President Ed Eddy and Ed Hansuld were delegates to the Annual Meeting of OPA in Toronto in Feb. of 1964. Ed Eddy, Wilfred Corp, Alex Henderson, and John Hargreaves selected the 1964 match site at Wray Leach farm, 4 miles east of Hickson on 97 Hwy., held Oct.24th. A new class for 4 furrow semi-mounted plows was introduced. A special class for reeves was held;- they had to plow one furrow each. Implement dealers were invited to demonstrate machinery. Coaching day was Saturday Oct.10. A hydro trailer was submitted. Mrs. Lorne Peat and the Ratho Ladies catered and made lunches.

The dates and headings of the newspaper coverage during 1964 are as follows:

Sentinel Review, Oct.13, pg.3                       Oxford Man Wins Ontario Match Title
Sentinel Review Oct.19, pg.5                        Thamesford Pair Win 4-H Test
Sentinel Review, Oct. 21, pg.10                    Don Taylor Is Institute Speaker
(Mrs. Floyd Ward commented on the motto "Life is a garden: What are you planting?")
Sentinel Review Oct. 21, pg.3                       Annual Match For Plattsville
(tomorrow) farm of John Hostetter
Sentinel Review Oct. 23, pg.3                       Cecil Wells Wins Best Team Awards;
 BLENHEIM PLOUGHING MATCH
Sentinel Review Oct.23, pg.9                        Norman Watson Guest Speaker
(at Oxford Centre Jr. Farmers)
Sentinel Review Oct. 23, pg.9                       21st Annual County Match For Ploughmen
(farm of Wray Leach, 97 Hwy)
Sentinel Review Oct.26, pg.3                        Cecil Wells Awarded 7th County Title; 1964 Oxford (text only)

At the Annual Meeting held on Dec.11th, 1964, it was moved by Ed Eddy and Lorne Richardson that, subject to the approval of W.O. Grenzebach, the East Zorra Trophy be presented to Cecil Wells. He had won it each year between and including 1960-64.
Art Dale became President, Alex Henderson, 1st Vice Pres., Ronald Hutcheson, 2nd Vice Pres. Ed Eddy, Provincial Director. Leroy Scott remained treasurer, with H.J. Hallock, auditor. The bank balance was $441.65.

1963

Lester B. Pearson was defeated by Conservative John Robarts on Sept.24th. Gordon Innes conceded to Gordon Pittock in Oxford. Norman Watson was agriculture representative of Haldimand County. His successor in Oxford, Bill Baxter stated plowing in the dry conditions of 1963 was like trying to plow concrete. Farmers' wells were going dry. The site committee (Hargreaves, Ed Hansuld, W.O. Grenzebach, and Ed Eddy) found an ideal site for the 20th Oxford Match on the farm of Mac Brown, northeast corner of Woodstock, east of the Lockhart farm. It had lighter more sandy soil. The Innerkip Women's Institute catered. Cecil Wells won the East Zorra Trophy for the fourth year in succession. Ross Pullen, R7, Woodstock won the tractor mounted class for Oxford and the Esso Special award. Alex Henderson was second. Terry Richardson, R4, Woodstock, won the Eaton Championship class for boys 17 and under. An Ohsweken man, Emerson Green won the horse drawn class. He plowed at the IPM for 36 years. He won his first IPM at Caledon with Cecil Wells's team drawing the plow.

The IPM 1963 at Caledon, Ont. was held in conjunction with the Canadian and World's match during the week of Oct.7-12, five days, Tuesday to Saturday. Eleven contestants in the Canadian contest; 33 contestants in the World contest; 18 nations were represented in the two day contest, sod on Thursday, stubble on Friday. A 39 year old Swedish cattle farmer won the worlds. Donald Dunkeld won the Ontario championship IPM contest earning him the right to enter the Canadian competition in 1964. At the 2018 OPA Convention he was presented with an achievement award for 70 years of competitive plowing in Ontario. Peter McDonald, Warden of Oxford County and Reeve of Blenheim Township placed third in the wardens plow class. On Monday morning (Thanksgiving Day), after the IPM 1963 was over, the Swedish champion, Mr. Mansson came to Cecil Wells's farm. Cecil hooked his four horses in tandem on the two furrow walking plow and Mr. Mansson plowed with them.

The Esso silver plow trophy is for the winner of the Canadian contest; the Esso gold plow trophy is for the world contest. The Esso golden plow trophy was designed and crafted by Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Co.Ltd.of London England,-a tessall golden plow, the same company which reconditioned the crown jewels for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth 2nd. It is made of gold plated silver. Since the trophy was donated 10 years ago (at the 1st World match at Coburg,Ont.), it has been won by Northern Ireland 4 times; Canada and Great Britain are double winners. Holland and Norway have each claimed it once. The only individual repeat winner is Ireland's Hugh Barr who has been a triple winner. Mr. Barr is team manager of Irelands delegation now at Caledon. The trophy is about 2 feet in length, a replica of an original Norfolk plow which is on display at London England's science museum. The Norfolk plow is considered the forerunner of the modern plow. It was developed from a 17th century light Dutch plow and was in common use during the 13th and 19th centuries.

The 1963 Blenheim Match was held on the farm of Glen Cruickshank, R2, Princeton, Conc.4, Blenheim, Princeton Drumbo Road on Thursday, Oct. 17. It had a special class for Oxford County Councillors to compete among themselves. Peter McDonald, warden of Oxford County competed, but was beaten by Stan Gehring, deputy reeve of S.Norwich(1st), Geo. Hogg, Reeve of East Nissouri(2nd), and Percy Wettlaufer of East Zorra(3rd).

The Ayr News, of Oct.24th, 1963 reported on North Dumfries 55th match at the farm of George Gillespie, just south of Ayr.It stated that Jim Taylor, Bob Brown Jr. and Don Brodhaecker represented North Dumfries at the recent IPM.

1962

1962
President Clare Hartley and V.P.Ed Eddy attended the OPA convention in Feb.1962. John Hargreaves, Ed Hansuld, Clare Hartley and Secretary Don Taylor approached County Council for a $600 grant; The treasury had only $20. At the Sept.5th meeting to revise the prize list, it was decided to: Omit the Inter Township Special class, not pay prize money for best crown and finish unless there is a minimum of at least three entries, seek specials from businesses to reduce cash outlay. William C. Barrie and George Haustrauser were sought to judge. (Will Barrie and John Hargreaves were judges). Horseshoe pitching was back. It was recommended to have a fire fighting demonstration, a non farmers plowing class, minimum age of twelve for plowing classes, and judges start earlier in the day and work individually.

IPM 1962 (49th Annual) was held near Owen Sound, Oct.8-11, on the farm of Norman Barber. Charles Bonney from Princeton placed third in the Ontario championship class.
(S.Review, Oct.11, pg 2); Windsor's mayor won an award and Barbara Cunnington from Peel County was named Ontario Queen of the Furrow.

Blenheim Township Plowing Match, held Thursday, Oct.18 (printed Friday, Oct.19, pg.2, S.Review) on the farm of Merle Coleman, R1, Plattsville.

The Oxford County Match, 1962, was held on the farm of Ben Sturris, R3, Woodstock. There were 30 entries, 26 in tractors, 4 in the horse class. Class 4, for boys and girls, 17 years and under had 13 entries, making it necessary to divide the class, one for boys under 15, and the other for boys 15, 16, and 17. Bill Eddy, R3, Woodstock won the youngest plowman
(nine years old), third in his class, plus the award for best finish. The North Oxford Women's Institute catered for the event. Cecil Wells was acclaimed Oxford Plow Champion, winning the East Zorra Memorial Trophy for the third successive year.
A party was held for Norman Watson, outgoing Associate Agriculture Representative and Bill Baxter came in.

The Annual Meeting 1962, of Oxford Plowmen was held Dec.7th with 15 members present. Bank balance was $48.24. The East Zorra Memorial Trophy was discussed. Grenzebach and Ed Hansuld suggested refinishing it before 1963. A new base was added. Bob Milne suggested new competitors shouldn't be allowed to plow in future plow matches under the age of twelve. This was carried. Bob was never able to teach his grandchildren to count to ten using his fingers because he had only nine. When he was a wee lad his brother chopped one off with an axe while they chopped firewood. Bob conducted the election of officers for 1963. They were: Past President, Clare Hartley; President, Ed Eddy, 1st Vice, Art Dale; 2nd Vice, Robert Ewen; secretary, Don Taylor; treasurer, Norm Shelton. Gordon Dyer and Bill Muir came on as new directors. Honorary directors were Gordon Innes, M.L.A., Wallace Nesbitt and Warden of Oxford. A grant of $700 was requested from County Council. Oil dealers and farm suppliers were to provide specials. Innerkip W.I. to cater. CIL to provide a tent.