1966

The same slate of officers was installed for 1966. Orville Freid came on as a new director, with John Summerhayes, Drumbo, together with Don Gourlay, Green Acres Equpment, and Albert Roberts.
Jack Hargreaves passed away as a result of a farm acccident (Feb.2nd).
Ed Hansuld went to the OPA convention in Toronto.
Mr. Summerhayes mentioned some problems the Blenheim Association had, while directors there canvassed for donations. Oxford designated John Hargreaves, Ed Eddy, and President Art Dale to approach County Council for a grant of at least $600, as usual.
The Braemar Ladies served a hot meal and prepared 47 lunches. County Council members received complimentary dinners.
More classes for out of county competitors and the use of wider furrow plows were recommended. The match date was planned for Oct. 8, at the farm of Fred McKay, Lot 10, Conc.8, West Zorra, 9th Line, west side of the road. Secretary Leroy Scott just had to walk out his lane and cross the road; Roger, his son, drove the tractor and plow to compete. The date was later changed to Oct. 5 to give young winners a chance to prepare for the Provincial competition at Seaforth, Oct. 11-14. Tavistock Gazette printed 200 posters and stickers (notifying the date change). The event was advertised in the Shopping News, Tavistock Gazette, and via CKOX radio. Implement dealers were invited to participate in the utility class, (good PR to sell their big plows). Food prices and land expropriation dominated the news throughout October 1966.
Five dams were proposed for the Grand River.

S.R. Mon. Oct.2nd, pg.9- 30 Hunters Jump the Gun, Flock to Unfinished Dam
Duck hunting season opened (til Dec.15).
Even though no trespassing signs were posted there was concern for construction workers, still at the site, being shot.
Gordon Pittock was chairman of the conservation authority at the same time as he was M.P. for Oxford. Accused of conflict of interest, he relinquished the position of chairperson. The dams did little for conservation or agriculture. They were playgrounds for the urbanites.
In 2018 the Fanshawe dam near London is planned to be dismantled to return the Thames to its natural state. The government should have heeded the advice of Edmund Zavitz decade's earlier (See 1932-34). It sounds like 2018 ̶ the government pushing for high speed rail through precious farmland to appease the wants of Torontonians. The more things change the more they stay the same.
Highland Park School, north of Embro, was still under construction. West Zorra students had to use their old one room 8 grade schools for the balance of October.
The enthusiasm of host farmer Fred McKay was apparent in the S.Review article of Oct.4, pg 9; the hot meal on a cold day, the ladies plow class, Ross Pullen and Terry Richardson being selected to represent Oxford at Seaforth, tThe Japanese contestant, all made the 23rd Annual Oxford Plow Match. Ross Pullen had represented Oxford with Gerald Hofstetter the previous year (1965) at York County, Massey Ferguson Farms near Milliken.

S.Review, Wed., Oct 5, pg.13; Japanese Visitor Tries Old Rural Custom: Plowing
Home was never like this. Not when home is a three acre farm in northern Japan, 36-year oldToshio Sato said shortly after he completed his plot of land in the mounted plow class at the 23rd Annual Oxford Plowing Match. Toshio grows rice and vegetables, and also raises some poultry for his own use on his small farm. He came to Canada in April on a Canadian Japanese government's grant to expand his knowledge of agriculture. He has been working on the Woodstock farm of Ed Eddy.
In contrast to the large farms in Canada, the average size of a Japanese farm is about two acres. The government uses its power to control farm size so that no individual has the opportunity to get an excess of land. Too much land in the hands of an individual could prove detrimental to the country; this, and the high cost of land ($1000 per acre). An 8-horsepower tractor is sufficient for his rice and vegetable farm.

The following excerpts from the S.Review give good coverage of the plowing circuit for 1966, of Oxford, IPM Seaforth, and Blenheim matches.