Queen of the Furrow

Derika Nauta, of Tavistock Ontario, was crowned the 2018-2019 Queen of the Furrow at the Friday evening IPM Celebration of Excellence.
Thank you also to Kailey Donaldson from Halton Cty. She won the title at the IPM held at Walton Ontario last year. Thank you for serving as the 2017-2018 Ontario Queen of the Furrow. 

 Left- Kailey Donaldson 2017-2018 Queen of the Furrow
Right- Derika Nauta 2018-2019 Queen of the Furrow

Blenheim plowing match 2018

IPM shaping up to be great event

 PAIN COURT - In less than two weeks, Chatham-Kent will showcase its agricultural roots when the 2018 International Plowing Match & Rural Expo begins here.
by Ellwood Shreve https://bit.ly/2wQyg8l

 

The event, which runs Sept. 18 to 22, is expected to attract more than 80,000 visitors, mostly from outside the community, as they descend on a tented city being created on Pain Court Line, complete with electricty, running water and wifi. “We, as a community, have taken up the challenge of IPM 2018, because we believe in Chatham-Kent,” said 2018 IPM co-chair Darrin Canniff, during a media event held at the IMP site on Wednesday. He said the project is bringing together more than 1,000 volunteers, both rural and urban, along with local and regional sponsors and hundreds of exhibitors. IPM co-chair Leon Leclair believes this event dispels any notion of a rural-urban divide in Chatham-Kent. “We are working so well together,” he said.

Mayor Randy Hope said it’s a great privilege for Chatham-Kent to be hosting the IPM.
“I think what’s really important is more people will be educated on Chatham-Kent’s slogan: We grow for the world,” he said.
Hope said it is important people learn about the 74 different crops and $3 billion economic impact that agriculture represents in Chatham-Kent.
Today’s Farmer publication is helping showcase the IPM and Chatham-Kent as a whole across southern Ontario.
This is an exciting opportunity to showcase and highlight the many positives in Chatham-Kent, and also display the world-class agricultural industry.
“Excitement is building for this year’s match, which is shaping up to be a great event for all,” said David Murray, president of the Ontario Plowmen’s Association, which partners with communities to host the annual event.
“The community of Chatham-Kent and beyond has gotten behind IPM 2018,” he said. “It’s sure to be a memorable event.”
Plenty of events are planned for this year’s event. These include a rodeo, the Farmall dancing tractors, the Canadian Cowgirls precision drill team along with a lineup of music acts, including Canadian Celtic rock favourites Mudmen.
Attempts at setting Guinness world records are new this year. The largest egg and spoon race and the most people bobbing for apples are examples. There also will be attempts at IPM records for the longest quilt binding and the most people eating corn on the cob at the same time.

The world record attempts are designed to add another element of excitement to the event for visitors.
Other events returning include the auctioneer’s challenge and the celebration of excellence gala to present plowing awards and crown the 2018-19 Ontario Queen of the Furrow, which are both being held 22 September.
The BMO Ontario farm family awards will take place 22 September to celebrate the accomplishments of 11 rural families.
Details can be found online at www.plowingmatch.org/ipm2018
Advance tickets can be purchased for $15 until 15 September. The cost will be $20 at the gate for adults. Tickets for children six to 15 cost $5 and children five and younger are free.
Canniff said gate revenue is important, adding, “the lifeblood of the event is sponsorship.
“We’ve had hundreds of businesses step up in various ways to help us out,” he said.
Organizers ask that participants take note of those who have sponsored the IPM and support them in turn.

Thamesville, Ont. resident Nelson Sage and his Belgian draft horses Jeff, left, and Nick demonstrate how to use a one-furrow horse walking plow on Wednesday 5 September 2018, during media day at the site of 2018 International Plowing Match & Rural Expo being held near Pain Court, Ont. The event is being held 18-22 September. (Ellwood Shreve/Chatham Daily News)

Leon Leclair, left, and Darrin Canniff, co-chairs of the 2018 International Plowing Match & Rural Expo, share details about the five-day event during media day at the event site near Pain Court, Ont. on Wednesday 5 September 2018. (Ellwood Shreve/Chatham Daily News)

The 74th Annual Oxford County Plowing Match

 The 74th Annual Oxford County Plowing Match was held Saturday Aug.18 at John Doan's farm 405815 Beaconsfield Road, Burgessville. 22 contestants vied for prizes donated by local sponsors. 

The results were as follows:

Class 1                                                    Two furrows                                                 

1^st                                                             Brian Sterling                                                 Chatham

2^nd                                                            Don Wilson                                                     Woodstock

3^rd                                                            Robert Sterling                                              Blenheim

4^th                                                             Glen Sharples                                                Embro

                                                                                                                                             

Class 2                                                  Boys and Girls
    (15-18 years of age)                                     

1^st                                                             Cole Brodhaecker                                        Ayr

2^nd                                                            Matthew Sterling                                         Paincourt

3^rd                                                            Ryan Buischetta                                            Ingersoll

4^th                                                             D J Christie                                                      Ingersoll

                                                                                                                                             

Class 3                                                  Boys and Girls
    (10-14 years of age)                                      no entries

                                                                                                                                             

Class 4                                                    Ladies                                                               no entries

                                                                                                                                             

Class 5                                                    Utility three furrows                                 

Flynn Reinhart                                    Princeton                                                        only entry

                                                                                                                                             

Class 6                                                  Antique trail plow
    Two furrows                                                   

1^st                                                             Dennis Royle                                                  Branchton

2^nd                                                            Don MacPherson                                         Norwich

3^rd                                                            Stuart Rooke                                                  Tillsonburg

Class 7                                                  Antique mounted plows
    Two furrows                                                   

1^st                                                             Jim Cox                                                             Innerkip

2^nd                                                            Hugh Henderson                                          Hagersville

3^rd                                                            Mike Lassam                                                  Tillsonburg

4^th                                                             Chris Sharples                                                Embro

5^th                                                             Harry Humphrey                                          Ayr

                                                                                                                                             

Class 8A                                                 Walking plows                                              no entries

                                                                                                                                             

Class 8B                                                Riding plows
     Sulky class                                                       

1^st                                                             Cecil Wells                                                       Paris

2^nd                                                            Ted Robertson                                             Harley

3^rd                                                            Phil Waite                                                       

4^th                                                             Steven Procter                                             

                                                                                                                                             

Class 9                                                    Reversible plows                                         no entries

                                                                                                                                             

Class 10                                                Mounted plow
     One furrow                                                     

Doug MacRobbie                               Guelph                                                             only entry

                                                                                                                                             

Class 11                                                  County and Township Officials             

Ernie Hardeman and Larry Martin competed.

The Nauta sisters,Derika(left),Tina(right)

Sulky plow class:Cecil Wells team(forefront),white team is Ted Robertson,front of Cecil's team is Steven Procter

Class2 Boys: Matthew Sterling(left),Ryan Buischetta,centre,and DJ Christie(right)

Tina Nauta, seen here holding a bouquet of roses, is the 2018-19 Oxford County Queen of the Furrow.

The tiara, sash and trophies were donated by the Bank of Montreal, the sponsors of the Ontario Plowmen's Association. She also won jewellery from Wilson and Markle Jewellers of Woodstock.

As Queen of the Furrow 2018 she will represent Oxford county at the provincial IPM 2019 near Verner in West Nippissing.

Her sister, Derika Nauta, is the 2017-18 Oxford Queen of the Furrow. She will represent Oxford at the provincial IPM next month. This match will be held near Paincourt, Chatham Kent.

Allard and Grietje Nauta are the proud parents.

Conclusion

The compilation of 'Plowing in Oxford County' is intended to tell the story of agriculture.
It is a tribute to W.O.Grenzebach, J.Lockie Wilson, J.R.Hargreaves and others. Grenzebach was praised by J.Lockie Wilson for his achievements (1925 paper clippings), but he did not receive the recognition that a person in the athletic field would receive anywhere in Canada.
The local county competition is integral to the Provincial IPM, which incidentally does not stand for integrated pest management. This question was actually forwarded at a writing class I attended.
The IPM draws in the region of 125,000 to 155,000 spectators, weather permitting, and is a top 100 Festival event in Ontario. Thanks to the sponsors, host farmers and dedicated members, the Oxford Plowing Match still continues.
Margaret Dale compiled the list of hosts and members that followed 1980; for this history see Scan0033 below.
At the OPA convention held 24 March this year the feature speaker from Farm and Food Care Ontario, was Amy Matheson from Embro. Her topic, 'Telling your Story', included debunking farming myths, animal welfare, genetically modified foods and mental health. As an advocate for agriculture, (She certainly was), she inspired the audience, including compiling this history. Her sudden death in July of this year underlines the mental health issues among farmers. She had too much on her plate.
From 1915 (East Zorra), 1922 (West Oxford), 1943 (Oxford) and 1952 (Blenheim Township), competitive plowing has changed very little‒tractors instead of horses.
The initiative of the leaders of Sweaburg Young Men's Sunday School Class, namely James H. Bastedo, Frank J. Murdoch and Stanley E. Allin, leaves a legacy. It is an inspiration for all plowmen and prospective farmers who love the land.
A Sunday church service precedes the annual IPM. Competition plowmen and their families fill the sanctuary. Their thankfulness for Earth's bounties is made manifest in their singing.
It is important for people to understand and appreciate their history, especially their local history. (Quote by Liz Mayville, curator of Oxford County Archives)
Thanks to Liz Mayville, Jackie Thompson at the W.P.L., my daughter-in-law Kristen, and Ian H.Robinson for their computer nous and assistance in compiling this history. There is an extra thank you to Ian for his copy editing of the material.
Finally the biggest thank you goes to my wife Jane. She has been at my side throughout this compilation and has put up with all the inconvenience caused by notes, paper in the den and on the kitchen table.

1959

Sept.28th, 1959 meeting

The 1959 Oxford match was planned to be held at Wesley Noack farm, RR2, Tavistock.
The welding competition was eliminated, but the tug of war for junior farmers continued.
The East Zorra junior farmers were in charge of parking, under the command of Jack Wettlaufer (Percy's son).
Mr.Ed Eddy offered the use of his farm for coaching day on Oct.17^th, with Marshall Deans of Paris to be the coach.
The Tavistock Gazette printed the prize list; The grounds committee met at the Noack farm on Wednesday 28 October at 2 p.m. to stake out the lands.

The Annual Meeting for 1959 was held January 15, 1960.
Bob Milne was in attendance. The bank balance was down to $900.
New directors were: Allan Innes, Roy Scott, and Bob Stephenson.
William Stone & Son supplied the tent. Due to bad weather there was some delay in taking it down, and the company was paid because the tent was damaged.

William Stone&Co. bought large dead animals to manufacture glue from their skin and bones. Large farm horses were prized. In 1961, their name became CIL(Canadian Indusries Ltd).

Election of officers for 1960 followed:
President, Wilfred Corp
1st Vice Pres., Percy J.Wettlaufer
2nd Vice Pres., Clare Hartley
Secretary, Robert E. Bell
Treasurer, Norman Shelton

Directors:
Art Dale
J. Hargreaves
Ed Eddy
Doug Start
EdHansuld
BudKennedy
Lorne Richardson
Ed Thornton
Wilfred Grenzebach
Jack Hargreaves
Dave Mitchell
Allan Innes
A.D. Robinson
Roy Scott
Bob Stephenson

The Official program of IPM 1959, held in Wentworth Cty.,near Dundas.
The Family Herald printed these programs for free. The program contained the lot number,
and the field where each contestant would be plowing.
Featured on the cover is Floyd Forsythe.
Visitors to the match could pick up a program from the Family Herald booth, and then went to the field to watch their home county contestant.

Two Plowmen from Stouffville

The Frieds were winners at Oxford in 1980 IPM; Keith Robinson from Cookstown was grand champion. This photo of veteran York county plowmen, Herb Jarvis (left) and Floyd Forsythe (right) was taken July 13, 2010. Both married into plowing families. Herb's father-in-law was Ed Timbers who won the IPM championship in 1913.
Herb plowed his first IPM at Beatty Bros. farm in Fergus in 1937. He plowed with horses for 25 years before going on to use a tractor.
He related this story:
In 1938 IPM at Minesing, there were 66 teams of horses: Les Capton won first prize.
 Herb was second by half a point; Andy McClure from Woodbridge placed third by one point behind Herb. First prize was Bank of Montreal trophy and $10. Andy McClure received $40 cash.

In November of 1948, seven Jarvis brothers plowed in the same class at the East York match held on the farm of Hon.George S.Henry, Woodbine Ave. between 401 and Sheppard Ave. ~ Breaking Ground pg. 137

Herb plowed at every York County match for 65 years. He plowed at the Oxford County 1951 IPM Class 21; He placed first in the 3 furrow class 1980 IPM at Oxford on Tuesday and Saturday (Class for ages 20 and over). He topped his class at IPM 1985 at St.Thomas. In 1986, he led the field at IPM near Stirling, ON. Herb plowed his last match in 2003. He passed away Dec.3, 2010.

Floyd Forsythe said he would never have become a plowman had he not married into a plowing family. His father-in-law told him, "If you are going to have my daughter (Rita Wells) you are going to have to learn to plow straight". Floyd started competition plowing in 1948. He plowed at Oxford 1951 IPM. He is standing next to George Waldie in the 1951 Bordens photo.
Floyd's brother-in-law, Grant Wells, was Canadian plow champion in 1967, and represented Canada at the World Match in Rhodesia in 1968.
In 1968, Floyd placed second in the Ontario competition at Guelph. He advanced to the Canadian competition in 1969 near Paris,Ont. Here he won the Esso Silver Plow Award, emblematic of the Canadian championship. The following year, he represented Canada at the World match Oct.2-3 in Denmark.

Statisics:

1976, Floyd was one of four Canadians competing at the World match in Sweden.
1980, Oxford IPM, he was 5th on Tues, 3rd on Wed, 6th on Thurs, 8th on Friday.
1982, Floyd was Ontario champion
1983 competed in PEI for Canada.
1984, Floyd was top plowman at the IPM in Teviotdale.