1974

The IPM was held in Halton County near Georgetown, on the farm of Craig Reid, Sept 24-28.

Harold Masson was president of the Oxford Plowmen's, with Jim Richardson as 1st Vice; Bill Weatherston, 2nd Vice; Ron Hutcheson, treasurer and Don Taylor, Secretary.

The directors were: Art Dale, John Hargreaves, Fred Fleming, Leroy Scott, Clare Hartley, Robert Gilholm, Ed Eddy, Ross Hargreaves, Glen Kitchen, Ken Peers, Clare Minler, John Hofstetter, Orville Fried, John Innes, Willard Mackay, Wilfred Corp, and Max Franklin.

Ed Eddy continued as OPA director. G.E. Hessenauer was auditor.

March 20, 1974: An Agricultural Committee of County Council was organized to bring the IPM to Oxford in 1980. The Committee, directors of Blenheim and Oxford Plowmen, was promoted by the Chamber of Commerce, who offered to sponsor a banquet with entertainment close to the Oxford match date. The date was changed to Oct.19 instead of Oct.12. Don Taylor wrote a letter to County Council thanking them for their support and the Association requested their help for an approach for the 1980 IPM in Oxford County at the next Ontario Annual meeting (Feb.75).

Harold Masson, Bill Weatherston, and John Hofstetter went to the OPA convention with an invitation to have the IPM in Oxford in 1980. Upon his return Bill stated that 20 memberships were mandatory (to have a director on the provincial board).

Les Dickson, a sales representative for Oxford Holsteins came on as a director.
Les was Oxford warden in 1973, and was defeated by Perry Sibbick Oct.30, 1974.
He was a county sales agent for over 25 years and wrote A history of the County Sales Agent System.
 
Art Dale and Bill Weatherston approached the Junior Farmer presidents and secretaries requesting entries for the Queen of Furrow competition.

Buchanan Farm Equipment offered $20 prize money to each entrant. To encourage entries, awards for crown and finish were eliminated in all classes.

By Sept. 30 three names had been submitted for the Queen contest: Elizabeth Eddy, Janet Peters, and Carol Coglin. The winner received a travelling case from Buchanans. The girls had a practise run at the farm of Harold Masson with John Hargreaves coaching. The girls had to make a 3-5 minute speech on the topic, "Why I'm Proud of Agriculture in Oxford."

Eugene Whelan, in the news most every day, opened the Swine Centre on 11 October at the former Ontario Hospital barns operating under a management contract with Western  Ontario Breeders. It was the first of its kind in North America.