1979

Oxford County was hit with a tornado between 6.30-7.30 p.m. Aug 7. The storm traversed the IPM 1980 site from the northwest, through Woodstock, crossed Hillview Cemetery, 59 Hwy.,401 intersection. The Hobart welding factory and Oxford Centre were destroyed. The tornado then travelled through Brant and Norfolk Counties. Another funnel crossed Hwy.59 north of Hickson. The Mennonite community from the surrounding area and the U.S. rebuilt barns in a matter of weeks; there was still feed and crop to replace.
The Oxford, Brant, Norfolk Relief Fund was set up asking for funds. These were to be sent to the County Treasurer Office, County Courthouse, Hunter St.Woodstock.
The community pulled together. Education workers were expected to contribute- trustees, teachers, inside and outside workers.
Damages to Southside School was appraised at $88,613, not including cleanup which would probably amount to $100,000 (reported by M.M.Dillon, consulting engineers from Toronto, Dairyland Advertiser,pg.6).
Christ Anglican Church, Oxford Centre United, and East Oxford Baptist Church were not aided by the relief fund (Sept.6,pg 3.).
The Barbershop quartet singers and a motorbike tour was Ingersoll's contribution to the relief fund (Sept7, pg5).
All funds from a London Free Press document entitled "Tornado" were donated to the relief fund.
The Bank of Canada interest rate was raised to 12.25% (Sept8 pg.1). A GIC at the Permanent was 11.25% per year, projected to go higher. It did.
A supplement to the S.Review contained the Embro Fair program (Sept.15-17). every contributor to the relief fund from Twnship of Zorra ($475 down to $5) was published. It filled a whole newspaper page. The Mercy Bros.entertained on Saturday night.
The Cheese and Wine Festival Queen for '79 was Camilla Sutherland. Retiring Queen Cindy Paton said her role as queen gave her the confidence to speak in front of any crowd without having a piece of paper to read from.
 The S.Review of pg 8 Sept 5th stated that things were looking good for General Motors. The IPM Committee got them to sponsor a large part of the 1980 IPM.
The Chamber of Commerce sponsored a bus to the 1979 IPM for the Tuesday of the event, held on the farms of Ian Maynard & neighbours in Chatham, Kent County. The Plowmen's Association sponsored a bus on Friday, Sept.28th. A well known plowman, Shelby Williams, from Caledonia, died while adjusting his plow during the '79 IPM. Gordon Bradfield, from Peterborough, was the last man to speak to him. Floyd Forsythe and Donald Dunkeld of Zephyr were two of the first to reach his side. All efforts to revive him failed.(sourced from F.Forsythe scrapbook).
Farmers with any surplus feed or hay were donating to a feed bank (or monies) that Premier Bill Davis committed the government to multiply three times.
S.Review Oct.2nd- Charles Munro was appointed to the advisory council of the Canadian Livestock Feed Board.
A Corn night was held. A large corn cob was the mascot of the 1980 IPM.
Oxford group 79- Leroy Scott was named secretary. Don Taylor took on a new position as assistant secretary. John Innes and Leroy Scott were delegates to the OPA convention in February. Clare Hartley remained treasurer.

Directors were: W.Corps	John Hargreaves
A.Dale	R.Gilholm
J.Hofstetter	O.Fried
W. Burrill	K.Peers
R.Pullen	Don Wright
R.Hutcheson	Henry Van Dorp
Gord Eddy	Bruce Burrill
Ron Totten	John Walton
Don Taylor was auditor for 79

Don Wright passed away early September 1979.
Due to shortage of time, rather than go out and canvas for funds, members made a voluntary loan of $50 each. The following members signed:

Les Dickson	Art Dale
Gord Eddy	John Innes
Clare Hartley	Wm.Weatherston
Weldon Burrill	John Walton
Fred Fleming	Ron Hutcheson
Leroy Scott

All queen contestants were to be paid $30.
John Innes took over as president for '79.
The Businessmen's Class and Township Officials Class used a tractor and plow instead of horses as in previous years. John Innes volunteered to purchase cheese for this class as in previous years (4-5lbs).
Either John Capton or Ray Montaque was to be plowing judge, with Bruce Burril to judge the horse show.
1979 The Oxford match was held at Art and Marg Dales farm south of Curries, Saturday, Oct.13.
 George Dakin was instrumental in organizing the first antique class at the match-Class 8- for tractors and plows 30 years or older. Three years later he organized the Ontario Antique Tractor Plowmen's Association (OATPA). George obtained a charter of their own for them. Therefore, they are independant from the OPA, with members from across Ontario. Subsequently they hold their own annual plowing match and banquet.
Mrs Carl Edwards provided lunches at noon.
At the Annual meeting, Dec.11th, the treasury had a balance of $116.
Due to the IPM being held in Oxford the following year, there would not be a county plowing match. 

Embro West Zorra Fair Board and Agriculture Society