1948

At the September 13th meeting of the Oxford County Plowmen, 1948, Mr Alvin Hunter suggested having the Junior Farmer match in conjunction with the Oxford match because they were in the same area. Hargreaves was not in favour of the idea because some of the classes at the county match were not too well filled and this would only aggravate the situation. The executive voiced the same opinion. No record of an Ingersoll Junior Farmer match was found in 1948, but the Junior Farmers were actively involved in the Oxford Plowing match. They were put in charge of the parking and traffic committee, along with the Provincial Police, and Alvin Hunter was the chairman. The Sentinel Review printed a glowing report for the 1948 Oxford match:

Dawendine Farm is Site for County Plowing Match

You've been to the International and if you saw any plowing, you walked miles to see it, more miles than the contestants in the horse classes walked behind their plows.

Now, if you want to see some plowing in match competition, the real thing as it is done in Oxford, and not walk miles to see it, the Oxford County Plowing Match is the place for you.

On Oct. 26th, drive south of Ingersoll to "Mike" Dewan's farm (two miles) on the Culloden Road. There was plenty to see besides plowing, a display of farm machinery, all your friends (over 5000    turned out last year), and a horse show.

Now, this horse show, its different. These horses must plow on the day of the match. Not just drag a plow a few feet to qualify. They must complete a land and while doing it must be in show harness, there's a sight for you, powerful spirited Clydes and Percherons in full regalia working a land.

The plowmen will be competing for a total of $800 in prize money, including many special awards which have been put up. Never before in Oxford was such a wealthy prize list compiled for a county match.

The East Zorra Plowmen's Association Memorial Trophy will be put up for competition. Fred Howard won the trophy in 1946; Harry Blackman was winner in 1947.

Other special prizes include $5 worth of motor oil donated by W.S. Ashman of Ingersoll for the oldest plowman in the regular classes. The youngest plowman will get $5 worth of goods from Ingersoll Hardware.

The Ingersoll Junior Farmers Club special will go to a member of the club placing highest in the amateur class in either horse drawn or tractor drawn classes. Entry in these classes must be a first attempt at a county plowing match. The prize will be $10 cash in each class.

The prize money for the horse show has been donated by the Ingersoll Agriculture Society. The Canada Permanent Trust Co. has put up a special award of $20 to the championship team in the show. All teams entered in the show must plow in show harness after one o'clock in the afternoon. Prizes are offered for the best draft team of Clydesdales, Percherons, or Belgians, the best wagon team, and the best plow team.

A highlight of the afternoon's program will be the class of non-farmers. This class may not be strictly novice as some retired farmers get the itch to lay hands on the plow handles, but as in previous years there should be enough green novices to supply plenty of fun when they first try their hand at turning a furrow.

Not only for the 1948 county match, but for the future 1951 IPM, 27 directors are listed in the minute book:- J.R. Hargreaves, Murray Gray, Lorne Richardson, Wilfred Grenzebach, Doug Start, George Innes, Murray Armstrong, H.E. Longworth, Sam Banbury, George Matheson, Calvin McKay, Fred Bertrand, Alex Muir, Ben Ball, Albert Roberts, Wilfred Corp, John Smith, Arnold Gee, Ross Hargreaves, John Wallace, Russell Karn, F.W.Goble, Doug McClintock, Sid Goring, Ed Hansuld, Bob Rudy, and Harper Hammond.

Fred Howard is president this year of the Oxford Plowmen's Association.His executive committee consists of K.R.Daniel, M.P., T.R. Dent, M.L.A., Warden Gordon Ross, C.W. Riley, Mayor of Ingersoll, and E.V. Kennedy past president, all of whom are honorary presidents. Also on the committee are Murray McBeth, first vice-president; A.D. Robinson, second vice-president; George E. Bell, secretary; Norman Shelton, treasurer. The committees for the 1948 Oxford match:

Plowing Teams:  A.D. Robinson and Murray McBeth, Donald Dane Learn, Eric Taylor.

Grounds: A.D. Robinson, P.M. Dewan, Wilfred Grenzebach, John Hargreaves, Alvin Hunter, Harley McBeth, E.V. Kennedy, Lorne Richardson, Doug McClintock, and John Smith.

Machinery and Educational: George Matheson, Percy Sage, Charles Nancekivell, Murray Gray, Harry Ellery, R.A. McDonald, Harry Little, Leroy Curtis, Burford Learn.

Prize List: Murray McBeth, E.V.Kennedy, A.D. Robinson, John Hargreaves, Norman Shelton, Harper Hammond, Ed Hansuld, Wilfred Grenzebach.

Horse Show: Bill Tapsell, Harry Ellery, Alex Amos, Harper Hammond, R.Alex Forbes, George Innes.

Parking and Traffic:  Ingersoll Junior Farmers and Provincial Police, Alvin Hunter, chairman. Fieldmen: Percy Sage, Leroy Curtis, John Hargreaves, James Calder, Tom Pellow, L.G.St.Clair. Announcements:  Jack Cockburn

Lunch was served on the grounds by the Salford Women's Institute.

Judge of the plowing was Frank Bell of Stratford.

Sentinel Review, Wednesday, 27th Oct., 1948 pg.7

Albert Roberts Champion Plowman of Oxford County

Albert Roberts, who plowed at the International Plowing Match at Lindsay, won the East Zorra Memorial Trophy in the class for tractors on sod plowing two furrows, yesterday. In addition, he won the "Esso Champion Tractor Special" of 1948 ($10), and the right to compete in the Esso class at the 1949 IPM, the William Stone& Sons Ltd. special (1/2 Ton of fertilizer), and the cash prize for the class of $15.

2000 or more people attended. Ascendancy of the tractor over horses was noted- 11 entries for horse classes and 24 in the tractor classes.

Officials of the Association were congratulated; the event seemed to run by itself, but it was the result of many hours of work by the directors and committee members. Mr. Daniel, M.P. said it compared favorably with the IPM.

The job of welcoming the crowd to the match on behalf of the plowmen's association fell to secretary, George Bell. He had the task because "the president, both vice presidents, and the treasurer were all plowing in competition".

He mentioned the hope of the association to bring the International Match to Oxford in 1951 and urged his audience to keep up their interest in the county match.

Wayne Richardson, 12, of 590 Ingersoll Ave. in Woodstock was the youngest plowman entered in the match. His father, Norman Richardson, entered the non-farmer class and won a dressed chicken. Oldest plowman was J. Ferguson, R.R. 2, Croton, 56. He plowed in the open class for tractors.

The horse show concluded the afternoon. All horse show entries had to complete a plow land to qualify. Earl Woolcott, R.R. 3, Embro won the championship with his draft team of Clydesdales. The $20 prize from Canada Permanent Trust was presented by Hector Symons of Woodstock. Next to the horse show, the non-farmer event drew the biggest crowd. Contestants were required to plow one round with a single furrow walking plow. Eight non-farmers entered; five came away with prizes of dressed chickens. Two newspaper reporters also ran. Class results as follows:

HORSE DRAWN

Sod, open- Elmer Armstrong, R.R. 2, St. Paul's; Karl Wilson, R.R. 4, Forest; William Buck, R.R. 2, Paris; D.G. Lee, R.R. 2, Paris; S.W. Small, R.R. 1, Mossley.

Sod, open to Oxford County - Fred Howard, R.R. 3, Woodstock; Russell Carter, R.R. 7, Woodstock.
Sod, open to boys 17 and under- Murray Long, R.R. 1, Salford; Lloyd Thompson, R.R.1, Bright.

Sod, no handling class, open- Fred Bertrand, Oxford Centre; A.D. Robinson, R.R. 4, Ingersoll.

TRACTOR DRAWN

Sod, open: N.D. Munro, R.R. 2, Oil Springs (best finish); J. Ferguson, R.R. 2, Croton (best crown); Kenneth Rath, R.R. 2, Mossley.

Sod, two furrow plows: Albert Roberts, R.R. 2, Woodstock; Jack Hargreaves, R.R. 1, Beachville; Reg Manuel, R.R. 1, Salford.

Sod, three furrow: George Shearer, Bright (best crown, best finish); George Masson, R.R. 1, Woodstock; Ken Howard, R.R. 3, Woodstock; Fred Richens, R.R. 2, Mount Elgin.

Sod, two or three furrow: Doug McClintock, Brownsville; Benny McGrath, R.R. 1, Beachville; Howard McCall, R.R. 3, Lakeside.

Sod, row crop: Norman Shelton, R.R. 1, Beachville; Murray McBeth, R.R.1, Salford.

Sod, two furrow: (must be operators first attempt at match plowing)- Jack Thompson, R.R.4, Woodstock (best crown); Vaughan Logan, R.R. 4, Woodstock (best finish); Alvin Hunter, R.R. 1, Mount Elgin;  Arthur Dale, R.R.1, Curries.

Sod, open to Oxford boys 20 and under: Ralph McCutcheon, R.R. 1, Beachville, (best crown, best finish); Bev Long, R.R.1, Salford; Gerald Heeney, R.R. 2, Ingersoll; Hubert Little, R.R. 1, Salford; Wayne Richardson, 590 Ingersoll Ave., Woodstock.

Non-farmers class: Alex Amos, Ingersoll; Bruce McCall, Embro; S.Wadsworth, Ingersoll; Norman Richardson, Woodstock; Joe Duffy, Ingersoll.

HORSE SHOW

Best draft teams: Clydesdales, Earl Woolcott, R.R. 3, Embro; best draft team, Percherons or Belgians, A.D. Robinson, R.R. 4, Ingersoll; Charles Sheahan, R.R. 1, Salford; best wagon team, Harold Duffy, R.R. 1, Salford; Harold Duffy, R.R. 1, Ingersoll; Don Spencer, R.R. 1, Ingersoll; George Sharp, R.R. 4, Ingersoll; best plow team, G.V. Barrons, Mossley; Richard Wilson, R.R. 1, Ingersoll; George E. Powell, R.R. 5, Ingersoll.
Championship team, Earl Woolcott.

Specials

Salada Tea Company special, Fred Howard

Esso Tractor Special, Albert Roberts

T.Eaton Co. Special, Doug McClintock

Robert Simpson Co. Special, Jack Thompson

John Hargreaves special, Norman Shelton

Ingersoll Hardware special, Wayne Richardson

W.S.Ashman special, J. Ferguson

William Stone Sons special, Albert Roberts

New Idea Furnace special, Murray Long

East Zorra Plowmen's Association Memorial Trophy, Albert Roberts

Ingersoll Junior Farmers Club special, Alvin Hunter

R.A.McDonald special, Murray Long

 Schedule for 1948:
Tuesday, Oct. 12, 35th IPM opens at Jack Chambers's farm west of Lindsay.
Tuesday, Oct. 12 was local counties day for Peterborough, Durham, South Ontario, and Victoria on the farm of J.C. Chambers in Victoria County.
Tuesday, Oct. 26, Oxford match at P.M.Dewan farm, Culloden Road, 2 miles south of Ingersoll.

S.Review, 12 Oct. pg. 4

County Officials at International Plowing Contest

With the possibility of bringing the IPM to Oxford in 1951, county officials are leaving Wednesday morning for a two day trip to Lindsay;- Council members, Reeve James Calder of North Oxford and Deputy Reeve J.Calvin McKay of East Nissouri. With them will be George Bell, agriculture representative; Emerson Moulton, county weed inspector; three ex-wardens, Milton Betteridge, J.Winston Nichols and Alex McCorquodale; A.D.Robinson of Ingersoll and E.V.Kennedy of Oxford Centre, members of the executive of Oxford Plowmen's Association; L.K.Coles, county clerk; J.N. Meathrell, county road superintendent, and Alfred Bishop, sheriff. John R. Hargreaves will be judging at the match. Last year, Oxford plowmen Albert Roberts, Kenneth Howard and Fred Howard of Oxford were among the winners at the match.

Agriculture Minister Tom L.Kennedy was scheduled to speak at the Friday night banquet Oct.15th. Premier George Drew announced on Oct.20 that T.L.Kennedy, from Peel County would be named Premier of Ontario. Mr. Kennedy still retained the portfolio of agriculture minister.He was a farmer, noted by his lean leathery cheeks, weathered by sun and rain.

Lindsay council on Monday Oct.11th declared Friday, the championship day, (for Salada Tea and Esso classes) a civic holiday, but the merchants all stayed open.

A team of champion plowmen came from Ireland to try their skill against Ontario plowmen.

Eight airplanes were for hire; apart from joy riding, farmers were also using them for crop spraying.

Sir Andrew Jones, head of the British food mission in Ottawa opened the match on Wednesday. The European Recovery Program, also called the Marshall Plan, named after George C. Marshall would end in 1952-53. Initiated in 1947, the United States spent 13 billion dollars in food aid and supplies to war torn Europe. The Marshall Plan was also credited with helping to check the spread of communism, when the Communists blockaded West Berlin. The blockade was an attempt to drive western powers out of the city. The blockade lasted from June 1948 to May 1949. During this time of the Berlin airlift, American and Allied planes delivered over two million tons of food and supplies to West Berlin saving them from starvation. Andrew Jones warned the gathering that Britain, next year, would reduce her imports of food from Canada as a dollar conservation measure, while stepping up her own production of grain and livestock. That did not mean that Britain would close her markets to Canadian farm produce. As soon as Britain overcomes her currency difficulties she would again turn to Canada for nearly 50% of her food requirements, before the U.S. food aid plan ends in 1952. Jones said it was Canada's shipments of bacon and eggs to England during the war that enabled them to win freedom to live their own lives. England has two objects in view- financial stability and production efficiency. "England will achieve solvency" he said. England must go forward with purpose, faith, and in step. Economic salvation is the spearhead of democracy. He then declared the match open and advised the plowmen to labor for future prosperity, to plow deep and straight.

Wednesdays competition, in stubble, had 86 teams and 213 tractors entered in nine classes. As the number of entries broadened, so did the distribution of prizes. In class two, horses, James Morrow from Northern Ireland placed third.

Thursday's competition, in sod, had two horse classes and eight tractor classes. One of the horse classes was the Junior Farmer inter-county competition. The two boys on the winning team were from Brant County. They won a free trip to the International Livestock Exposition in Chicago. The inter-county competition (Class 10) was held on Thursday and Friday. Brant County was first, Peel second, Haldimand third on both Thursday and Friday. Brant team was Bill Buck, Paris, and Carman Porter, Ohsweken. Duncan Watson, from Woodbridge, won the F.G.Fuller trophy on Thursday and the Bank of Montreal trophy on Friday.

Thursday results were:

Class 9- Tractors, open, 1. Bill Clark, Gormley; 2.  Vera Jacques, Jarvis; 3. Peter Imrie, Argyle;
4. Madeline Huffman, Waterford; 5. Dorothy West, Oakwood. The Royal Bank Shield (SPECIAL) was won by Ross Nottingham, Little Britain.
"The Post" newspaper from Lindsay published only the three top placings in each of the following classes:
Class 10- Inter County, Horses- 1. Brant Cty; 2. Peel Cty; 3. Haldimand Cty; F.G.Fuller trophy- Duncan Watson, Woodbridge.
Class 11- Horses- 1. Howard Timbers, Aurora; 2. Willis Jarvis, Blackwater; 3. Howard Fess, Cayuga. Class 12- Tractors- 1. Bob Timbers, Stouffville; 2. Glen McFadden, Millbank; 3. Ernest Evans, Maple. Class 13- Tractors- 1. Ivan McLaughlin, Stouffville; 2. Joe Tran, Claremont; 3. Hugh Leslie, Georgetown.
Class 14- Tractors- 1. Grant Wells, Stouffville; 2. Ross Nottingham, Little Britain; 3. Lorne Beilhartz, Bruce Station.
Class 15- Tractors- 1. John Pickett, Hornby; 2. Donald Horn, Orillia; 3. Wallace Moore, Lindsay.
Class 16- Tractors- 1. Mervin Harper, Stouffville; 2. Ernest Thomas, Breslau; 3. Floyd Forsythe, Stouffville.
Class 17- Tractors- 1. Wilbur McFadden, Millbank; 2. Allen Mayer, Claremont; 3. H.Carter, Arkell. Class 18- Girls- Tractors- 1. Madeline Huffman, Waterford; 2. Betty Lambert, Woodville; 3. Dorothy West, Oakwood.
Class 19- Boys- Tractors-1. Junior Tellons, Brantford; 2. Donald Dunbert, Claremont; 3. Douglas Manley, Brunswick; 4. Cecil Wells, Paris.(21 contestants in this class,said Cecil)

Fridays results: much the same as above; Cecil Wells placed 10th out of 27 contestants; Cecil plowed with tractor at his first three IPM's 1948, 49, and 50. Bill Buck was his next door neighbour who got him started. He was 12 years old when he plowed at Lindsay in 1948. The Ayr newspaper gave more detailed results. Duncan Watson won the Bank of Montreal trophy for inter-county horses; Floyd Forsythe placed third again in Class 16 tractors.
Class 21- Horses- 1. Elmer Armstrong, St.Paul's; 2. R.G.Brown, Galt; 3. Marshall Deans, Paris; R.G.Brown won the Massey Harris Challenge trophy. Alvin Mark and Wilbur McFadden were winner and runner-up in the horse plowing class sponsored by Salada Tea.
Rys Bacher and Bob Timbers were tops in the tractor class sponsored by Esso oil Co. These four men, besides the six week trip to England in January won gold and silver medals; gold for first, silver for second.

 

1947

The most progressive movement for agriculture were the contests of the Boys and Girls clubs co-ordinated by the Canadian Council on Boys and Girls club work. At fall fairs and exhibitions elimination contests were held prior to the National Contest held at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. Membership in the clubs in 1947 was 41,000 an increase of more than 2,500 over 1946. The preliminary contests reduced the finalists down to about 94 members in contesting teams for the National contest. A.E. MacLaurin was general secretary. The boys had to judge dairy cattle, beef cattle, swine, poultry, seed grain, and seed potatoes. The girls judged clothing, (food was added in 1947), the best laundered and repaired cotton blouses, cotton dresses, costume selection, with a parade of four models dressed for a specific occasion such as school or church. They had to demonstrate their ability to do hand sewing, machine sewing, and pattern adjustment. The food project included making up menus, school lunches, ability of contestants to prepare certain foods selected from salads, muffins, tea biscuits, cream soups, floating island custard and then anwer questions by judges known to be  top bracket cooks. The winners , after seeing the sights of the RWF, went on a trip to Hamilton, Niagara Falls, Ottawa, and Parliament Buildings.

S. Review Saturday Oct. 25   Place Third in Judging Contest

The 10th Line Calf Club team from Oxford placed third in the dairy cattle section of the Ontario inter-club judging competition held at the Ontario Agricultural College yesterday. The team, Billy Smith of R.R.5, Embro and Donald Nash of R.R.3, Woodstock, scored a total of 1076 points out of  a possible 1200. The Bond's Calf Club team, Jack Thompson, R.R.4 Woodstock and Howard Greenly,  R.R.8, Woodstock placed in the prize winners. The Ingersoll Kiwanis Calf Club team , Russel Dickout of R.R.1, Salford, and Billy Rivers, R.R.5, Ingersoll also placed in the money. Howard Greenly provided a clarinet solo at the dinner program following the competition. The young audience held Howard not only to an encore but to several numbers before they would allow the program to continue.  George Bell, assistant agriculture representative accompanied the teams to Guelph.

The Kiwanis calf club achievement day was held at the Ingersoll fair prior to the Guelph competition; some plowboys names are listed in attendance- Billie McLeod, Louie Agnew,James Riddick, David Dewan, Murray Long, Neil Crane, Howard Sims, Robert Morrison, John Morrison, Wray Robinson, David Morrison, Authur Wilson, James Somers, Billie Wilson, Charles Shelton, Ronald  Alderson, Jack Wilford, Bruce Shannon, Ken O'Neil, Gerald Heeney.

The 13th Annual Ingersoll Jr.Farmers Plowing match was held on Wednesday Oct. 22, farm of James W. Allin, Thames St. north, open to residents of North and West Oxford and Dereham Township. Attendance was down due to changes in classes. Some former classes were eliminated in the hopes of bringing in new beginners. Judge was Frank Laidlaw from Jarvis. Results:
Class 1, boys and girls 17 and under-1. Bob Coventry, 2. Murray Long; Class 1, 21 yrs and under, Cecil Batten;
Class 4. No handling, Fred Bertrand; 2. Lorne Wilson
Class 5, horse class- 1. Harry Blackman, 2. Norman Shelton;
Class 6, tractors, boys and girls 20 yrs and under, 1. Ralph McCutcheon, 2. Beverly Long, 3. Jack Hutchison;
Class 7, tractor 10 inch bottom 1. Reginal Manuel 2. Bill Wilford;
Class 9, tractors, 3 furrows, 1. Bill Budd, 2. Roy Franklin; teams and equipment , 1. Mrs. Fred Gregg, 2. Harry Little, 3. W.H. Tuttle. Most boys went on to compete at the Oxford Match.
S. Review Friday Oct 24, 1947. Page 9

OXFORD COUNTY PLOWING MATCH AND HORSE SHOW FARM OF F.W.STOCK R.R.6 WOODSTOCK-Tuesday Oct. 28

The prizes consisted of 7 horse drawn classes and 7 tractor classes. A special class for non- farmers with five dressed chickens offered as prizes was expected to provide as much fun for farmers and spectators as it did at the match last year.

HORSE SHOW

The classes in the horse show are for plow teams and all teams entered into the show must complete a land and the plowing be considered worthy of a prize by the judge. Prizes in the horse show are being offered by the Tavistock Agricultural Society for the best draft team of Clydesdales, the best draft team of Belgians or Percherons, the best wagon team and the best plow team. A championship award in the horse show was put up by the Canada Permanent Trust Company in Woodstock. The East Zorra Plowmen's Memorial trophy for the best plowed land by an Oxford plowman, won by Fred Howard in 1946, is open for competition.

The executive of the match includes: K.R. Daniel M.P., T.R. Dent, M.L.A., Warden  M. Betteridge and Harper Hammond as honorary presidents; V.E. Kennedy was president, Fred Howard , first V.P, Murray McBeth 2nd V.P., G.R. Green, secretary; Norman Shelton, treasurer. Judge of plowing was Frank Bell of Stratford. A type of plowing ignored by the IPM at KIngston and not seen at any other plowing match in Ontario was demonstrated by Russell Bruce of OAC soils department.(contour plowing).

Among the larger grants received by the association this year have been: $400 from Oxford County, $100 from Tavistock Agriculture Society , $50 From the village of Tavistock , $50 from East Zorra Township, $50 from a provincial grant as well as a long list of supporters. Canada Trust offered a special prize for the championship team in the horse show. Teams to be judged in this show must plow on the day of the match. Prize winners in the events were:

Horse Drawn

Class 1, sod, open-Elmer Armstrong, R.R.2, St. Pauls; Alfred Dickie, Jerseyville; Carl Watson, R.R.4, Forest.
Class 2, sod, open to Oxford County- Harry Blackman, R.R. 4, Ingersoll,; Fred Howard, R.R.3, Woodstock; Norm Shelton, R.R.1, Beachville.
Class 5, sod, open to Oxford County boys 16 and under- Bob Coventry, Salford.
Class 6, sod, amateur- Wesley Noack, R.R.2, Tavistock.
Class 7, sod, no handling class- Fred Bertrand, Oxford Centre; Frank Ballantyne, R.R.3 Stratford; Gord Seadon, R.R.2, St. Pauls.

Tractor Drawn

Class 8, tractor sod, open- Edward Mitchell, R.R.1, Denfield; J.Ferguson, R.R.2, Croton; Les Carmichael, R.R.2, Ilderton.
Class 9, tractor sod, 2 furrow plow- Albert Roberts, R.R.2, Woodstock; Jack Hargreaves, R.R.1, Beachville.
Class 10, tractor 3 furrow- Ken Howard, R.R.3, Woodstock; George Shearer, Bright
Class 11, tractor 2 or 3 furrow,- Fred Williams, R.R.5, Ingersoll.
Class 12, tractor row crop- Peter L.Smith, R.R.2, Tavistock.
Class 13, tractor , 2 furrow - Reg Manuel, R.R.1, Salford; William M.McIntosh, R.R.2,Embro; Harry W.Clay, R.R.2,Tavistock.
Class 14, tractor, open to Oxford County boys-Ralph McCutcheon, R.R.1,Beachville; Beverly Long, Salford; Wayne Richardson,Woodstock.
Special class for non-farmers- R.Schell, Woodstock; Norman Richardson, Woodstock; M.Gray,Woodstock; A.Bennington,Burgessville; T.Kaufman,Tavistock.

     SPECIALS

 Salada Tea- Harry Blackman, R.R.4, Ingersoll.
Esso Champion tractor- Albert Roberts, R.R.2, Woodstock. T. Eaton Company- Ken Howard, R.R.3, Woodstock.
Tavistock Milling Co.-Elmer Armstrong, R.R.2, St. Paul's.
Zimmerman Bros- Bob Coventry, R.R.1, Salford.
Howard Lefler- Wesley Noack, R.R.2, Tavistock.
Harry Nuttall- Fred Bertrand, Oxford Centre.
John Hargreaves- Peter L. Smith, R.R.2, Tavistock.
Robert SimpsonCo.-Reginald Manuel, R.R.1, Salford.
Canadian Bank of Commerce, Tavistock-Ralph McCutcheon, R.R.1, Beachville.
Bob Rudy, for youngest plowman; Wayne Richardson, Woodstock.

Horse Show 

Best draft team, Clydesdale-L.G.St. Clair, Ingersoll; Harry Little, Salford; Wesley Noack, R.R.2, Tavistock.
Best draft team, Percheron or Belgium-Mrs. Fred Gregg, Salford; D.N.Snyder, Baden; Jack Coulas, Embro.
Best wagon team- A. Atwell, R.R.2, Tavistock; W.H. Tuttle, Woodstock; William Iutzi, Petersburg.
Best plow team- William Iutzi, Petersburg; Franklin Ballantyne, R.R.3, Stratford; Elmer Armstrong, R.R.2 , St. Paul's.
Championship team: L.G. St. Clair, Ingersoll.

V.E.Kennedy, president, declared it one of the best matches and praised the support given the association by the people of Tavistock. Attendance was "about 6,000" people. Thirty loaves of bread were used by the Christian Crusader's Bible Class of Zion Evangelical church in Tavistock for lunches served.

Sentinel Reveiw, Wednesday, October 29 

YOUNG PLOWMAN

CHOMBERG,(CP) - Jimmy Thomas, 10 yrs old 66 pound boy of Maple, Ontario, won top honors in his class for boys under 14 years at the annual King Vaughan plowing match  yesterday. Only 52 inches tall, the youngster used a borrowed team of horses.

At the Annual Meeting, 13th Dec., 1947, George E.Bell was the acting Secretary after the sudden death of G.R.Green. Mr.Green had served as secretary and backbone ever since the association was organized.

Albert Roberts suggested Oxford have coaching days for Juniors next fall, prior to the IPM and encourage junior teams to compete in team and tractor classes at the IPM.

John Hargreaves, seconded by A.D.Robinson that a delegation be sent to the Conference in Toronto to bring the IPM to Oxford. It was moved by George Matheson second by Murray McBeth that a committee composed of the President, Vice President, John Hargreaves, A.D.Robinson, Wilfred Corp, Wilfred Grenzebach, the treasurer, and Secretary attend the Provincial Conference to bid for the IPM in 1951; also to look into the matter of financing the match. The treasury had $345.74.

The following officers were elected for 1948: President-Fred Howard; Vice President-Murray McBeth; 2nd Vice President-A.D.Robinson; Secretary- Agriculture representative; Treasurer-Norman Shelton. 26 directors,required for planning the IPM 1951.They were: John Hargreaves, Murray Gray,Woodstock; Lorne Richardson,R.R.4, Woodstock; Wifred Grenzebach, R.R.7, Woodstock; Douglas Start,Curries; George Innes, R.R.4,Woodstock, Murray Armstrong, Oxford Centre; H.E.Longworth, Woodstock, Sam Banbury, Burgessville; Geo.Matheson,R.R.3,Thamesford; Calvin McKay,R.R.2,Lakeside; Fred Bertrand,R.R.4, Woodstock; Alex Muir,R.R.3, Woodstock; Ben Ball,R.R.5, Woodstock; Albert Roberts,R.R.2,Woodstock; Wilfred Corp,Tavistock; John Smith, Brownsville; Arnold Gee,Woodstock; Ross Hargreaves; John Wallace,R.R.8, Woodstock; Russell Karn,R.R.1, Woodstock; F.W.Goble,R.R.3, Woodstock; Douglas McClintock, Brownsville; Sidney Goring,R.R.6,Woodstock; Ed Hansuld, R.R.2, Tavistock; Bob Rudy, Tavistock.

The plowing schedule for 1947 was:

Oct.14-17             IPM Kingston

Oct. 22                  Ingersoll Jr. Farmers Match James W. Allin farm, Thames St. North

Oct. 28                  Oxford Match Fred W. Stock farm off Hwy #19, south of Tavistock (#59)

Kingston (CP) Tuesday Oct. 14 The IPM opened, the largest of its kind on the North American continent, at Hemlock Park farms (3200 acres) 8 miles NE of Kingston, farm of Col. A.H. Fair. Official opening took place on Wednesday Oct. 15 with Hon. Ray Lawson, lieutenant Govenor of Ontario officiating. He was introduced by Hon. T.L. Kennedy Ont. Minister of Agriculture.Tuesdays events were opened to Eastern counties of Frontenac, Leeds, Grenville, Dundas, Stormont, Glengarry, Prescott, Russell, and Carleton. Twenty horse plowing and 36 tractor competitors entered. 350 contenstants made up 750 entries for 4 days events. Two hundred tractors and 150 teams of horses were ready for competitors travelling from distant counties. Horse shoeing competitions required horses too. 12,000 spectators attended Eastern counties events.

Sentinent Review Oct. 16 City and District PLOWING WINNERS Two Woodstock and three district men were prize winners in Wednesday events at IPM Kingston. Albert Roberts of Woodstock, was a winner in the tractor class, while Kenneth Howard, also of Woodstock was a winner in the tractors utility class. Ron Hendrick, New Hamburg, placed in the money in the plowing contest for boys under 18 in the horse class. 173 contestants entered in 9 classes Wednesday; the feature class was the intercounty competition, Class 5,( the Ottawa Farm Journal class), two boys or girls from each county who had not reached their 20th birthday on Oct. 1st, 1947. Douglas Manley, Berwick and Ralph Beehler, Chrysler represented Stormont Cty: Melville and William McGuire, Spencerville represented Grenville Cty, Joan Holsgrove, Westbrook and M.J. Kelly, Mount Chesney represented Frontenac Cty.

Doug and Harvey Campbell, Brant County won the Jr. Farmer Intercounty team, a free trip to the International Livestock Expo in Chicago and basic expenses for one year at OAC Guelph.

Thursday Oct. 16 Kingston Whig-Standard Of the nine classes held on Wednesday, only first twelve received money or were listed. In Class 6, Albert Roberts, Woodstock placed eleventh. Donald McAvey from Clayton, New York was the only U.S. competitor. Vera Jacques of Jarvis, 18 was the youngest competitor, using a Massey Harris pony tractor. The judges were Frank Laidlaw, Jarvis; Winfred Timbers, Stouffville; Frank Bell, Stratford; George Hostrawser, Brampton; Norman McLeod, Galt; H.L. Winslow, Millbrook. A team of oxen owned by Hubert Crothers of Nipissing County demonstrated plowing; the team was driven by Albert Sands, 87, a county resident.

Wednesday results Oct. 15, open and limited classes for horses and tractors (top 3).
Open novice class, horses-1Harley Timbers, Stouffville; 2 Robert Nixon, Hagersville; 3 Oliver Hill, Ohsweken. Horses, boys under 18, 1 Wallace Snyder, Waterloo; 2. Norman Watson, Woodbridge; 3. William Buck, Paris. Horses two furrow walking plows-1. George Hays, Marvelville; 2. William Booth, Russell. Tractors Open-1. Robert Timbers, Stouffville. 2. Ernest Evans, Maple; 3. Harold Picket, Hornby. Tractors, former first and second prize winners barred-1. Joe Tran, Claremont; 2. Rys Bacher, Hagersville; 3. Doug Campbell, Cainsville. Tractors, former prize winners barred-1. Ed Gray, Rockwood; 2. Gerald Eggleton, Belleville; 3. William Brain, Norval. Tractors, boys under 18-1. George Timbers, Stouffville, 2. Earle Fleming, Hagersville; 3. Bill Waldbrook, Hagersville. Tractors utility class-1. Russell Grafton, Brampton; 2. William Lemery Jr., Waterford; 3. Ken McKague, Teeswater.Horses, open-1. Elmer Armstong, St. Pauls; 2. Ronald Marquis, Sunderland; 3. James Lee, Greenbank.

In the log sawing contest, (Wednesday) Harry Youngblood and Stanley Reed, Catskill, Perth County, sawed a 16 1/2 inch log in 42 1\2 seconds. On Friday they sawed a maple log 20 inches in diameter in 55 seconds. They won the competition all three days, sponsored by the National Employment Service Dept. of Labor, Ottawa.

The horse shoeing competition required blacksmiths to make shoes from a bar of steel and place them on front feet of a horse. Norman McDonald of Orillia won this competition both Thursday and Friday.

Kingston Whig Standard Friday Oct. 17, 40,000 attendance on Wednesday, 55,000 attend on Thursday. Thursdays results; class 10-Ollie Hill, Ohsweken, an Indian lad from the reservation in Brant County, who was 19 yrs old, did some exceptionally good plowing. William Buck, 17, of Paris, his partner in intercounty competition won for Brant County. Class 11-Jointer plows, horses, open to age of 18 yrs-John Randall, Breslau; Jim Hogg, Seaforth, Alfred Brunton, Tara; Norman Watson, Woodbridge; Harold Greenlees, Lyndhurst; Len Smart, Woodville; John Bruce, Spencerville; A. Featherstone, Miliken; O. Labell, Clarence Creek; Robert Greenlees, Mount Chesney; Victor McCalpin, Gananoque; Lloyd Van Dusen, Mallorytown.

Class 12-Tractors utility class, open to first prize winners in open tractor classes at branch matches in 1946 and 1947-Russell Hare, Nanticoke; Allan Meyer, Claremont; Ernest Evans, Maple; Rys Bacher, Cayuga; Alex Black, Guelph; Edward Marshall, Denfield; Ken McKague, Teeswateer.

Class 13-Tractors, open to those solely engaged in farming, former first prize winners in this or open tractors classes not eligible-Glen McFadden, Millbank; Bruce Miller, Jarvis; Ivan McLaughlin, Stouffville; Russell Maw, Minesing; Jack Beaton, Blackwater, Robert Timbers, Stouffville; Russell Morrison, Beaverton; Albert Roberts, Woodstock; Harris Little, Agincourt; Harold Pickett, Hornby; Allan McNabb, Edenvale; Joe Tran, Claremont.

Class 14-Tractors, open to those solely engaged in farming who had not won a prize in a tractor class at an IPM prior to 1947-Harvey Campbell, Cainsville; Alvin Mark, Cameron; Jerry Ferguson, Croyon; Jack Campbell, Churchhill; Douglas Harry,Trenton; Milford Fenwick, Brampton; Harold Pattenmore, Athens; Eric Webster, Lansdowne; Gerald Eggleton, Belleville; Howard Greer, North Gower; C.S. Wrigglesworth, Hornby; Edgar Baker, Alberton.

Class 15-Tractors, open to all boys under 18 yrs of age solely engaged in farming, who have not won a prize in a tractor class in an IPM prior to 1947-George Timbers, Stouffville; Ralph Beehler, Chrysler; Earl Fleming, Hagersville; Orville Carter, Port Lock; Bill Wallbrook, Hagersville; Gordon Fox, Bloomfield; Stan Becker, Blair; M.J. Kelly, Glenburnie; Cecil Gibb, Cold Springs; William Huffman, Waterford; William McGuire, Spencerville; John Lambert, Lorneville.

Class 16-Tractors, three or more furrows, former first and second prize winners in open three furrow classes in sod or stubble at IPM's not eligible-Walter Thorne, Peterborough; William Rogerson, Seaforth; Kenneth Howard, Woodstock; Ray Conklin, Prescott; Russell Grafton, Brampton; Bert Liler, Waterford; George Robertson, Goderich; Emerson Greer, Ohsweken; William Coutts; Walton ; Norman Ritchie, Inverary.

On Friday Oct.17, final day, the Esso championship tractor Class 23, Glen McFadden,Millbank(1st) and Russell Hare,Nanticoke(2nd) won free trips to the U.K. the following year. Harold Pickett,Hornby(3rd);Ernest Evans,Maple(4th);Russell Maw,Minesing(5th);Albert Roberts,Woodstock(6th);Ivan McLaughlin,Stouffville(7th);Alan Meyers,Claremont(8th).

Class 17, Jointer plows,horses, the Transatlantic class,sponsored by the Salada Tea Co.was won by Alfred Brunton,Tara;second was John Capton Jr. Ohsweken Indian lad from the Six Nations Reservation in Brant County.They each won overseas trips. Alf Brunton said he was lucky to draw a good land. Dawn Brunton, describing her father's trip to the U.K.said an Englishman asked Johnny Capton to remove his hat, then said "O.K.you can put it on now". Johnny turned to Alf and said "What did he think,that I would have feathers on my head?" The Brits thought Indians were a novelty.

Class 18-jointer plows, horses, open, excepting to those eligible to compete in Class 17-Elmer Armstrong, St.Paul's; Marshall Deans, Paris; Hector Carrier, Maxville. Elmer wins the large Massey Harris Challenge Trophy. He also wins the Frost Fence trophy for the best plowed land in sod with the walking plow.

Class 19-Jointer plows, horses, open to those who have not won a first or second prize in open jointer classes at an IPM.The S. Review of Oct. 18. City and District pg. 4 stated: Fred Howard, Woodstock placed 12th in this class.

175 competed in nine events on Friday Oct 17th not all listed here. Norman Watson won the jointer plow class, horses for boys under 18. Norman was an agriculture representative for Oxford County in later years. Vera Jaques, Jarvis, won girls class. Saturdays S. Review Oct 18th front page featured a photo of Lowell Dickson, 11, of Sudbury, the youngest entrant at Kingston IPM. He came in 2nd in the pony tractor class.

The Hon. George A.Drew, Ontario Premier speaking at the Friday night IPM awards banquet in the armory before 1000 farmers and civic officials, called upon the farmers to "do all their power to help ward off the threat of Communism."  Food Rationing still existed. Millions of people were hungry and on the verge of starvation in wide areas of Europe and Asia. Hungry people would always turn to "desperate expedients." Mr. Drew said the people of Russia were living in the same state of fear as did the Germans in the Hitler era. Farming in Ontario is no longer a mere question of making a living; it has become a great humanitarian duty as well as an opportunity for our youth. Food production in Canada may well turn the tide of complete breakdown in social structure and revert to a new desperate form of barbarism. For this reason, the plowing match can help our own farmers, and through them, our own country.

The President of IPM 1947 W.L. Clark, from Gormly, who has attended every match since the first in 1913 said it was the first one without rain.

1946

'For what avail the plow or sail
Or land or life,if freedom fail'

The Goderich Signal Star, September 12, 1946

Sentinel Review October 10, 1946

Several Oxford County Plowmen were successful contestants at the Middlesex plowing match at Thorndale yesterday.In the tractor open sod class,Albert Roberts,Woodstock,was second,and Murray McBeth,Salford,fourth.In the open sod,jointer class,Harry Blackman,Ingersoll,and Fred Howard,Woodstock, were third and fourth respectively.

The IPM resumes on Tuesday,15th Oct. at Port Albert Airfield near Goderich in Huron County.The 1946 IPM is called the Victory Match.Open counties day (Tues.) for Huron ,Perth,and Bruce; Gordon McGavin was OPA president;J.A.Carroll was secretary manager.
A war veteran's class, introduced by Gordon McGavin in 1945, was held by all three counties. Alex Kerr of Seaforth,who served overseas with the Elgin Regiment of the Canadian Armoured Corps won for Huron.The winner of the Perth veterans event was Norman Dow of Staffa,who served in Italy with the First Canadian Divisional Signals.Winner in the Bruce veterans class was Hugh Simpson of Teeswater;He won with a team of mules.

Tuesday's plowing (23 events) were held on airport land.Heredity showed itself when 11-year-old John McGavin won first place in a tractor class,open to boys up to 16 years;John is the son of Gordon McGavin; He was coached by his grandfather,81 year old John McGavin.

Hunger in Europe and Britain in the winter of 1946-47 was not aided by rationing and continued government wartime controls. Mr.C.Gordon Cockshutt of Brantford,president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce stated,"Canada's wealth must be created by enterprising free men working in a free environment",not by a socialist government stymied by labour strife,wartime controls,and an outmoded system of taxation. Canada could not permanently control a country so large as the Dominion without covetous eyes being cast on it.(sounds like 2017).New immigrants of any one race should not be allowed to colonize any one section of the country.They should be spread through the populace as a whole."Canada must increase production" he said.

The Stratford Beacon Herald, October 15

The Beacon reported on Knox United Church,Embro,114th anniversary,- Guest speaker Rev.Charles Leslie,professor at Victoria College,Toronto was introduced by Rev.O.Glen Taylor.The choir sang two anthems in which solo and duet parts were taken by Miss Ethel McCorquodale,Miss Helen McLeod,Mrs.James Fleming,Peter Smith,and Laurence Mckay.

Stratford Beacon Herald, October 16

GOERING SUICIDES IN HIS CELL NUREMBOURG

Hitler's number two man takes capsule of poison,hours before cheating the hangman.He left intelligence officers trying to determine how he got,concealed,and took the poison.Ten other Nazi leaders walked to the hanging trap without collapsing; Next day the Beacon reported his death was being closely scrutinized.The source of the cyanide pill is a mystery.Twelve people are under scrutiny.The Allied Control Council's Commission which conducted the executions disclosed that it had three notes Goering left in his cell,but said the contents of the notes would not be divulged.

The Beacon Herald, October 16

Tuesday(open counties day,23 classes),10 were confined to farmers from Huron,7 from Bruce,and 6 from Perth; Elmer Armstrong,St.Paul's won first for Perth; James Hogg,Seaforth was first for Huron.There were 47 classes in total;Free trips to Britain for the first and second prize winners in the championship class. A horse shoeing competition was held for 3 days,Wednesday,Thursday, Friday. In the Friday,open competition,contestants were required to make a horseshoe from a straight bar,toe clip it,and fix it in position. Viscount Earl Alexander, Governor General of Canada opened the match.

Number 4 aircraft hangar,measuring 160X225 feet was filled with livestock and field produce exhibits of Huron county.All four hangars that once housed R.A.F.planes were filled with exhibits.Urbanites from Stratford went out to help the farmers with their harvest,after they had finished their regular work.1946 was a bountiful year in Perth county and the labour shortage was felt greatly.Oxford spectators and competitors made the trek to Port Albert.Rain the previous week had softened up the fields to a point where they were "just right" for the glistening shares.

Albert Roberts farmed on Concession 3,Lot 8,Blandford township.He drove the Silver King tractor towing his plow in a two wheel trailer from Eastwood to Port Albert. Albert's brother Bill,bought the Silver King new in 1939.When Bill went into the air force,Albert took it over.The Silver King had a fast road gear,-28 miles per hour.Albert stopped at the Queens hotel in Stratford for lunch;Albert's lunch,according to Howard Bruce, was a barley sandwich and two bottles of beer. He arrived in Port Albert before dusk. He won first prize in a tractor class on Wednesday.On Thursday, he placed 8th in class 13. He placed 7th for the Robert Simpson Co. trophy,(a tractor class). Tom Roberts(Alberts son) lives on Hughson St.Woodstock.He said Albert used to play the accordian at Stratford radio station.Tom and his siblings used to gather round the radio and listen.Albert called square dances too with Fred Chesney playing the violin.Albert passed away Dec.10,1973.

Sentinel Review, October 18, 1946                                                                                             Beacon Herald, October 18,1946

SIX NATIONS INDIANS ARE PLOWING CHAMPIONS

Two Indian boys from Six Nations reservation, John Capton Jr.and Bill Buck scored the highest point total in inter county junior farmer competition against 11 other teams.

Beacon Herald, October 19, 1946

PERTH MEN GET FREE TRIPS TO BRITAIN

Austin Nairn and George Waldie of Stratford will be included among five plowmen who are to receive all expense tours to Great Britain. George Waldie is to be manager of the group.The trips go to the winners of first and second place in each of the horse drawn and tractor drawn plowing championship events.Horse event was won by Floyd Steckley of Stouffville.Tractor championship event were won by Fred Timbers of Stouffville and Alex Black of Guelph.

Tuesday's paper announced the 1946 Oxford match, a full page, with ads from Woodstock dealers.

 OXFORD COUNTY PLOWING MATCH AND HORSE SHOW FARM OF A.LOCKHART-FRIDAY OCTOBER 25
Keen competition is expected for the various special prizes.

The "Salada Tea Company Special for 1946" is a cash award of $10 for the best land in the jointer sod classes (horses only) plowed by a resident of Oxford County. The T.Eaton Company special for the best plowed land by a three furrow tractor is a Chippendale design silver salver valued at $20. This is open to Oxford county plowmen. A cash award of $10 has been put up by Howard Lefler of Woodstock for the best plowed land by a two furrow tractor, open only to Oxford County. For the best plowed land with a row crop tractor by an Oxford plowman John Hargreaves has offered five bushels of registered oats with a choice of Beaver or Ajax. R.A.McDonald, Cockshutt implement dealer in Woodstock has offered a walking plow, No.21, valued at $27 for the class open to Oxford county boys 20 years of age and under. Clark Murray, Woodstock has offered two prizes of two dollars each for the youngest plowman and the oldest plowman, both in the regular classes. Competition will also be open for the East Zorra Plowmen's Association Memorial trophy.This trophy is awarded annually at the plowing match for the best plowed land by a county plowman using either team or tractor. In addition to the plowing competition a horse show will be held with prizes donated by the Woodstock Agricultural Society. In the show there will be four classes: for draft teams of Clydesdale, draft teams of Percheron or Belgian, wagon teams, plow teams.A fifth class to decide the championship team will be held with the prize of $20 donated by the Canada Permanent Trust Company.

The effort and planning that went into the 1946 Oxford match was comparable to the IPM held at Port Albert the previous week. Honorary presidents were: K.P.Daniel, M.P.; T.R.Dent,M.L.A.; J.Winston Nichols,warden; Harper Hammond,past president. James Livesey and Fred Howard were vice presidents, secretary was G.R.Green, County Agriculture representative, Norm Shelton was treasurer.
The committees; Plowing teams: Ben Ball, Albert Roberts, Fred Bertrand, and James Neil; Grounds: W.Grenzebach, E.V.Kennedy, George Bell, John Chesney, Arthur Lockhart, Ben Ball, Fred Howard, Doug Start, Albert Roberts, Fred Bertrand, and Jack Griffin; Machinery exhibits: Murray Gray,               G. Matheson, J.Hargreaves, W.A.Muir, W.Corp, B.Sutherland, M.McBeth, Clare Peers, Arnold Gee; Education Exhibits: Clare Peers, Sam Bambury, Allan Thomson, G.R.Green, Harper Hammond, H.E.Longworth; Lunch and Entertainment: E.V.Kennedy, Warden J.Winston Nichols, Harper Hammond, H.E.Longworth, Godfrey Bragg, Jack Griffin, Lawrence Granger, M.Betteridge, Harry Little, Leslie Curry, Robert Livesey, Wesley Cuthbert, Wilfred Cockburn, H.A.Bishop. Prize List: E.V.Kennedy, W.Grenzebach, Harper Hammond, Norm Shelton, A.D.Robinson, John Hargreaves, G.R.Green, Albert Roberts; Horse Show: Harper Hammond, J.E.Nephew, G.Innes, H.E.Longworth, R.J.Forbes, William McIntosh; Field Men: Leroy Curtis, L.H.Sibbick, Osmond Murray, T.Cooper, Ross Carroll; Announcements: Jack Cockburn, Jack Simpson; Lunch: served by the Bond's Home and School Club.

Those who entertain the idea that the horse will become obsolete as a source of farm power in Canada are entirely wrong,according to Grant McEwan, Professor of Animal Husbandry at University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon. The wise farmer will keep a team or two of good horses to do work which can be done cheaper by horsepower than by tractors. Over 9000 Canadian horses were exported to France and Europe in 1946. Canadian horses were used for police work in the British West Indies,Barbados,and Bermuda.Range horses from the west in large bunches were not encouraged because they were difficult to handle, but big quiet brood mares that raised gentle farm colts were in great demand.

The fourth annual Oxford match featured a home improvement exhibit for the farm wife and a show of electrical appliances for the home while hubby was out turning the sod for prize money. Lands adjoining the Lockhart farm (Mr.Godfrey Bragg) were reserved for parking. A display was arranged between the Deptment of Lands and Forests and the Oxford Fish and Game Protective Association. The Junior Red Cross of WCI again held their tag day on the grounds. It was anticipated to be the biggest county match ever held in Oxford County, but on Friday morning Oct. 25 the plowmen were all gathered in a large tent under pouring rain awaiting a possible turn in the weather.

Sentinel Review, Saturday, October 26, 1946, pg 5

With fine weather and a smile on the face of the president E.V.Kennedy, the Oxford match started after a postponement yesterday due to rain. There were 16 teams and 21 tractors entered.

The Daily Sentinel-Review, Woodstock-Ingersoll, October 28, 1946

RECORD CROWD SEES FRED HOWARD WIN CHAMPIONSHIP
AT OXFORD PLOWING MATCH

Fred Howard, R.R.3 Woodstock was proclaimed champion plowman at the fourth annual Oxford County Plowing Match held on Arthur Lockhart's farm Saturday. Mr. Howard placed first in the horse drawn class,open to Oxford county for plowmen who had not won first prize in this class three times since 1943 was awarded the East Zorra Plowmen's Association Memorial Trophy (for the best plowed land with either team or tractor). The Salada Tea Company Special was also won by Mr.Howard. A record crowd of 6000 watched the 51 competitors. L.G.St.Clair of R.R.4 Ingersoll won the award for the championship team in the horse show, a new feature of the plowing match program. The feature which drew the most attention was the special class open to non-farmers.The class attracted 10 entries all trying for five dressed chickens. Plow handy farmers and city folk laughed heartily as some of the inexperienced non-farmers struggled with the plow and team. Three rows of farm machinery and equipment were strung across the north end of the field. Ed Dutton, president of the Oxford Fish and Game Protective Association exhibited a table display of Oxford county birds.Behind Mr.Dutton was a bank of evergreen trees brought from the first county reforestation plot in Zenda. These were planted in 1939. Farmers Magazine sponsored a home improvement exhibit.A model farm was displayed flanked by a stand showing colored photographs of prize winners in home improvement contests. A number of these were photographs of farm homes in Oxford.

The 12th Annual Ingersoll Junior Farmers match was held at Doug Wilson farm, Whiting St.Ingersoll on Wednesday 30th October,1946.                 

Oxford 1946 results

Kenneth Howard (left) holding the T.Eaton Co.trophy; Fred Howard (right) holding the Salada Tea Co. Special for 1946, and the East Zorra Memorial Trophy (centre).  

Murray Long