1942

The eighth annual Ingersoll Junior Farmers plowing match was held on the J.C. Harris farm south of Ingersoll on Wednesday 21st October and Frank H. Bell of St. Paul's was the judge.

Contestants were primed for the Oxford county match Friday's paper 23 October had two plow scenes of the junior farmers event.

Sentinel Review 24th Oct.1942 Saturday

Fred Howard Wins Oxford Contest in Annual County Plow Match               

Good Entries in All of the 11 Events Held Yesterday R.G.Brown,Galt,Winner of Open Class                         

Fred Howard,R.R.3,Woodstock,won the plowing competition open to Oxford plowmen yesterday and he also won the Salada Tea and T. Eaton prizes, totalling in all $38.Murray Budd of Ingersoll,who won the junior plowing contest a couple of days ago, placed first in the second class open to county plowmen. He also won the award for the best crown and finish.

There was a bitter raw wind sweeping across the huge level field on George Innis' farm on the Norwich Road, where the contest was held, but hundreds of farmers were on hand to enjoy the big event. Plowmen and spectators were served sandwiches and hot drinks at noon by the ladies of Blowes Home and School Club.

GIRL IN CONTEST

A good deal of interest in the match centred in the first class because there was a pretty young girl behind the plow.There was always a crowd at the east end of the field where she was plowing and most of the farmers admitted that she could plow better than they. She was Margaret Erb of Gadshill and placed third in the event open to plowmen outside of Oxford county. She drove the horses that won the praise for the best plow team. They were owned by Herb Cody, Woodstock.

There was a buckrake  demonstration in the afternoon and the farmers showed considerable interest in the labour saving device for gathering in the hay.

This was the first time a county wide plowing match had been held in Oxford and the sponsors were well pleased with the number of entries. More than $350 was given in prizes.

The prize for the youngest plowman and the prize for the oldest plowman were each won by young men. There were no "old" plowmen taking part but Lorne Richardson of Woodstock got this prize.  The youngest competitor was 15 year old John Dakin of Woodstock.

The judge was Clark Young of York County,secretary of the Ontario Plowmen's Association.President of the committee responsible for the match was Arlington D.Robinson.

The event was to have been held on the farm of H.E.Longworth,Norwich Road,but the day before the event word of the death of his son Harold with the R.C.A.F. overseas made the change necessary.

PRIZE WINNERS

Following is the list of prize winners in each class:

Class One- Open to plowmen outside of the county:

R.G.Brown,Galt   

Marshall Deans,Paris

Margaret Erb,Gadshill

Orville Brush,Wyoming,Lambton 

Class two- Open to Oxford County Plowmen:

Fred Howard,Woodstock

Harry Bushman,Ingersoll (sic) misprint,should be Blackman

Norman Shelton,Woodstock

Albert Roberts,Woodstock

Class Three-Open to those who have not plowed in any other match:

Murray Budd,Ingersoll

Reuben Hyde,Beachville

Fred Bertrand,Woodstock

Murray Budd won best crown and finish

Class Four-Open to those in Oxford under 20:

James Heeney,Ingersoll

Verne Cuthbert,Ingersoll

Max Franklin,Ingersoll

best crown,James Heeney;best finish ,Verne Cuthbert

Class five-Open to those in Oxford under 17:

Harold Masson,Woodstock

George Dakin,Woodstock

best crown and finish,Harold Masson

Class six-Open to plowmen 20 and over in their first match:  Harvey Norrington,Woodstock

Class seven-Open to plowmen under 20 in their first match:

Russel Carter,Woodstock

John Dakin ,Woodstock

Class eight- Tractor plowing,open: Jerry Ferguson,Lambton;Ken Rath,Middlesex

Class nine-Tractor,two furrow,open to Oxford;

Gilbert Barron,Woodstock

Lorne Richardson,Woodstock

Harry Ellery,Mt.Elgin

Class ten-Tractor,three furrow,open to Oxford;Ralph Swarthout,Mt Elgin

Class eleven-Tractor,two furrow,first attempt in match: Harry Roberts,Woodstock

Special Prizes: Salada Tea Special for best land in Jointer Sod Class,horses only,by resident of county-Fred Howard.

T.Eaton Co.relish dish worth $18-First in the class with the largest entry- Fred Howard,Woodstock

John Hargreaves,five bushels of registered Alaska or Cartier oats- for best beginner in horse classes-Harvey Norrington,Woodstock

Howard Lefler-$10 for best tractor beginner- Harry Roberts,Woodstock

Best plow team-First,Herb Cody,Woodstock;Second,a team driven by Harry Blackman

Best team and equipment-First,Russell Masson,Woodstock;Second,Verne Cuthbert,Ingersoll

 

 

In 1942, Canadians, led by Prime Minister Mackenzie King, had to pull together. Premier Hepburn resigned 22nd Oct. 1942. He was always at odds with the Federal leader, very effective at opposing rather than governing. Wartime was not the time to be dividing Canadians.

Hepburn's Liberal campaign ads of 1937 expressed what the farmers wanted and needed.

Ingersoll Tribune, Sept.30 1937

Dewan swept Oxford with an Increased majority of 1863 votes over T.R. Dent. Both farmer politicians
hosted Oxford plowing matches;-T.R. Dent in 1943, Dewan in 1948.

The Wartime Prices and Trade Board enforced rationing nationwide. Ration books were issued for gasoline, one good reason not to abandon the horse for plowing. Speed limit was reduced to 40 mph. Sugar was rationed(3/4 of a pound per person per week). Tea, coffee(one oz. tea, four oz. coffee per person per week). Butter(1/2 pound per week per person). Meat-beef, veal, pork, mutton, lamb,

-(5 pound per person per week).

The Board threatened a $5000 fine, or two years in jail, or both ,should anyone be caught misusing their own or anyone else's ration books or coupons.(Quoted from Charlie S. Baldwin's book of memoirs-"Maple Grove and Beyond to Eden") Pg.207.Charlie was a weed specialist, hailed from Eden, Elgin County, worked for OMAF for 34 plus years. He is remembered for this statement: "What is in the heart or mind of a man who past his three score years and ten plants a tree in whose shade he knows he will never sit?"

To finance the war, governments borrowed money from the public. They were debt securities,-war bonds, victory loans, or savings certificates. They were an emotional appeal to patriotic citizens to lend their money, because these bonds offered a rate of return below the market rate. The Tribune of Oct.15,1942 was advertising for the Third Victory Loan, campaign dates Oct.19th to Nov.7th. Oxford must raise $2,700,000. Overseas parcels must be mailed by Nov. 10th at the very latest if they were expected to arrive in time for Christmas.

Ingersoll Tribune Oct.29,1942

Two young West Oxford plow boys, Bruce Amos and Jack Hargreaves won top honours for themselves and the Ingersoll Kiwanis Calf Club judging in competition with more than 50 other entries at the Provincial Judging contest held at Guelph. Bruce Amos was also the top ranking boy among more than 100 best junior cattle judgers of 87 clubs in the province. They went on to compete in the Dominion wide contest in Toronto, first week in November 1942,and also received a free trip to Ottawa. Hon.P.M.Dewan,Minister of Agriculture, addressing the banquet in Guelph after the contest proudly stated that Bruce Amos lives across the road from Dawendine Farm south of Ingersoll on the Culloden Road. He gained employment at Oxford and District Cattle Breeders, aka Western Ontario Breeders, lastly known as Gencor.

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