1939

The IPM opened at Brockville 10th October.  Tuesday's events were open only to Eastern Ontario contestants, and curtailed by high winds and rain.  Chief Elliot Moses led the Indian delegation while the Manitoulin Island entrants were:  Mike Wasegijig, J.P. Jacko, R.P. Wasegijig and Charles King.

Friday, 20th October - The East and West Oxford Match was held at Verne Meek's farm one mile south and east of Ingersoll - reported in Saturday's edition of the Ingersoll Daily Sentinel Review.

Saturday, 21st October - OXFORD PLOWING MATCH MOST SUCCESSFUL EVENT

The annual plowing match sponsored by the East and West Oxford townships, held yesterday, was the best in the four years of the association's yearly efforts. The best October weather accorded an attendance that topped all previous marks and more numerous entries, some who participated in the previous weeks IPM.  A large crowd strolled back and forth in small detachments to watch the work in various classes. Agriculture had its day, and made the most of it.

At noon, about 100 of the plowmen patronized the Ladies' Aid of the West Oxford church who provided a splendid dinner at the farm of Mr. and Mrs. E.J. Heeney.  The ladies also had a booth on the grounds.

W.C. Barrie of Galt was judge of plowing and teams.  Dr. J.G.Murray,Ingersoll, judged the teams and equipment.  There were many classes.  The placings were:

Class one, sod, open -

1. R.G. Brown, Galt;

2. William Gemmel, Galt;

3. Marshall Deans, Paris;

4. Orville Brush, RR2 Wyoming;

5. Clifford Cox, RR1, Woodstock;

6. A.D. Robinson, West Oxford;

7. Russel Brush, Wyoming.

Class two, sod, open to Oxford -

1. Geo. Jakeman, W. Oxford;

2. Fred Bertrand, E. Oxford;

3. Howard Chilton, W. Oxford;

4. Fred Howard, Golspie;

5. Norman Shelton, E. Oxford;

6. Russell Pellow, W. Oxford;

7. Mervin Cuthbert, N. Oxford;

8. Russell Masson, W. Oxford.

Class three, sod, open to Oxford County boys 22 years & under -

1. Murray Budd, W. Oxford;

2. Clifford Sly, E. Oxford;

3. Kenneth Wade, W. Oxford;

Best crown & finish, Murray Budd.

Class four, sod, open to Oxford County boys 19 years and under -

1. Ross Hargreaves, W. Oxford;

2. Floyd Franklin, W. Oxford;

3. T. Webber, W. Oxford;

Best crown & finish, Ross Hargraves.

Class five, sod, open to Oxford County boys 16 years and under -

1. Leslie Pellow, W. Oxford;

2. Murray Haycock, Dereham

Best crown & finish, Leslie Pellow.

Class six, sod, amateur class for East and West Oxford townships -

1. Vernon Cuthbert, W. Oxford;

2. Max Franklin, W. Oxford;

3. A. Roberts, E. Oxford;

4. John Bone, W. Oxford

Best crown, Vernon Cuthbert; best finish Max Franklin.

Class seven, tractor, sod -

1. Alex Black, Guelph RR2;

2. Ed Mitchell, Denfield;

3. Ken Rath, Mossley.

Class eight, tractor, two furrow plows, open to Oxford County -

1. Jack Hargreaves, W. Oxford;

2. Ray Jeffrey, E. Oxford;

3. Charles Laister, E. Oxford;

4. W. Roberts, E. Oxford;

5. Fred Williams, W. Oxford.

Class nine, tractor, three furrow plows, open to Oxford County -

1. W.B. Blancher, W. Oxford;

2. K. Howard, RR3, Woodstock;

3. W. Gray, W. Oxford.

SPECIAL PRIZES

Best team and equipment, County House of Refuge, Russell Masson, George Franklin, George Jakeman, A. Roberts, A.D. Robinson;    Author's comment: The County House of Refuge on 11th  Line of East Zorra owned a farm(west side of the road) where the Oxford County sheds are.The manager was Fred Bertrand, who placed 2nd in Class two,above,where his address is stated as East Oxford. To win best team&equipment is a tribute to his management.

Best plow team, George Jakeman;

Best plowed land, open to West Oxford, Ross Hargreaves;

Best plowed land, open to East Oxford, Ray Jeffrey;

Best plowed land to Oxford plowmen, Ross Hargreaves;

Youngest plowman, Leslie Pellow;

Oldest plowman, W.B. Blancher;

Best plowed land by a beginner,the John Hargreaves special trophy, was won by Vernon Cuthbert

Best plowed land, jointer plow, sod classes, Ross Hargreaves

Best plowed land, plow drawn by a Silver King tractor, Ray Jeffery, Curries.

Author's comment:  This would be the first plowing match attended by my father Ken Howard, where he won second prize.  Albert Roberts competed in the amateur class.  In future years, Ken Howard and Albert Roberts competed as a team at the 1946 Victory Match and were side by side in both the group photos of 1949 and 1951 Borden's Class.

JUNIOR PLOWING MATCH NOVEMBER 1

At the Ingersoll Junior Farmers meeting of Wednesday, October 25th, the winners of the judging competition at the Ingersoll Fair were announced, Seniors:  Philip Moulton, Bruce Thornton, Frank Caffyn, Mervin Cuthbert, Murray Budd, Ross Moulton; Juniors:  Earl Shelton, John Hargreaves Jr., Archie Longworth, Joe Garfat, Walter Corbett, Hugh Gordon, R. Kelly.

Harry Ellery of the plowing match committee announced the juniors match will be on the farm of William H. Chambers, 1 mile south of Salford, Wednesday, November 1st.  Will Barrie was judge again, weather ideal, and the event was the best yet in every way.

A tug-of-war between teams representing the north side of the river captained by Gordon Sandick and the south side of the river captained by LeRoy Wilson was won by the north.

A drawing contest between teams owned by George Franklin and Theo Weber was a close one.  The load started at two tons and was gradually built up as the teams proved equal to each addition.  George Franklin's team won.  Chief Constable Alex Callander of Ingersoll officiated over this as he did the tug-of-war pull.  Snow fencing kept the large crowd back and afforded equal opportunity for all spectators.

Most contestants of the East and West Oxford Match competed at the Junior Farmer Match.  The winners:

Tractor class, 10 inches and over -

1. Murray McBeth, Salford;

2. Kenneth Rath, Crampton;

best crown & finish, Murray McBeth.

Open Class -

1. Harry Blackman, Ingersoll;

2. A.D. Robinson, Ingersoll, RR4;

3. Fred Howard,  Woodstock;

4. Norman Shelton, Woodstock, RR7;

5. Howard Chilton, Beachville, RR1;

6. Russell Pellows, Woodstock, RR4;

Best crown & finish, Harry Blackman.

Class open to active members of Ingersoll Junior Farmers -

1. George Jakeman, Beachville, RR1;

2. Mervin Cuthbert, Ingersoll, RR2;

3. Murray Budd, Ingersoll, RR5;

4. William Northmore, Putnam;

5. Ellis Wilson, Ingersoll, RR5;

6. Kenneth Wade, Ingersoll;

Best crown & finish, Geo. Jakeman.

No handling class, open -

1. A. Roberts, Woodstock, RR2;

2. Floyd Franklin, Ingersoll, RR2;

3. Roy Whatley, Beachville, RR1;

4. Cecil Howard, Ingersoll, RR5;

5. Harold Haycock, Ingersoll, RR5;

Best crown & finish, A. Roberts.

Class 20 years and under -

1. Ross Hargreaves, Beachville, RR1;

2. Fred Williams, Ingersoll, RR5;

3. Verne Cuthbert, Ingersoll, RR4;

4. Theo Webber, Salford;

5. Glen Bartram, Salford;

6. Wilbert Fleming, Ingersoll, RR2;

7. Roger Nagle, Salford, 13 years who was the youngest competitor

Best crown & finish, Ross Hargreaves.
Many donors, including three Ingersoll banks,contributed to the prize lists.

1938

Edmund Zavitz campaigned to create Conservation authorities.  Coronation Park in Toronto is a memorial to Canadians who fought in WWI.  In August of 1938, 60,000 veterans and 250,000 spectators gathered at Coronation Park to campaign for reforestation.  Tremendous pressure was put on the government to create conservation authorities.

Sentinel Review 12th October, 1938 City and District

OXFORD EX-WARDEN WINS

A.D. Robinson of West Oxford, former warden of the county, won an event for wardens and ex-wardens at the provincial plowing match near Barrie yesterday, with Charles Greatrix of Simcoe county second.  Mr. Robinson was also awarded first for best crown and finish.  No Oxford names are listed in the other events on yesterday's program.The 1938 IPM was held in Minesing township.

Fridays paper of October 14 1938 adverts

Laurel and Hardy were playing at the Royal Theatre; Paul Kirkpatrick Band to play at the Green Grotto across from the Capitol Theatre; Kipp's Barn Dance was to be held on Wednesday Oct.19 one quarter mile west of Princeton on Hwy#2, Teitz orchestra from Hagersville to play- admission 25 cents, and notice of East and West Oxford Plow Match.

 

On the farm of R.A. (Dick) Marriage, Norwich Road, Lots 18 and 19, Conc. 5. East Oxford, near Curries; twenty-four teams in competition, plowing began at 9:30.  Heaviest entry is in the sod class, open to Oxford county plowmen who have not previously won first or second place in open competition.  Nine in this class.

In the open sod class which customarily attracts the top plowmen in Ontario, there are entrants from Lambton, Galt, and Guelph.

John Hargreaves is a spectator, cheering on the second generation of Hargreaves plowmen.  Both sons are contestants, one with a tractor the other with a team.

FOUR TROPHIES

The New Commercial trophy and the Bank of Commerce trophy will go to the best plowing done by West and East Oxford entrants, respectively.

The Eugene Lefler Memorial trophy goes to the Oxford county entrant who leaves the best land.

The Ashman shield is for Oxford County boys 22 years and under.  Judging was done by W.C. Barrie of Galt.

Directors in charge of classes were:  Open sod, Murray Gray; sod, open to Oxford county, George Innes; sod, open to Oxford county boys, 22 and under, John Amos; sod or stubble, open to boys 19 or under, Harper Hammond; stubble, open to boys 16 or under, Martin McDowell; stubble, amateur class for East and West Oxford townships, Fred Millard; tractor, sod, open, Sam Hird; two farrow tractor, Douglas Start; three furrow tractor, Ben Ball, Secretary in charge of records and land allotments is G.R. Green.

A chilly wind sharpened the appetites of competitors and spectators making the high heaped plates served at noon by the women of the district in the Curries  Community Hall thoroughly welcome.

Sentinel Review Friday, 21st October

Hargreaves Boys Are Heavy Winners in Plowing Contest

While father John Hargreaves, who has won so many championships it has become monotonous, he watched his sons win every prize that was open to them.  Ross Hargreaves won the horse drawn plow class for Oxford county boys 19 and under, and 15 year old John Jr. (Jack) won first prize against adult competition in the three furrow tractor plow class.

Ross Hargreaves also won first prize in the class for boys 20 and under whose fathers are patrons of the City Dairy and won the Ashman Shield awarded for the best plowing done in any of the age limit classes.  John Jr. won the special prize given to the youngest plowman in the competition.  Ross also won the extra prizes for best crown and best finish.

Judge William C. Barrie's services were provided by the Department of Agriculture.  He judged R.G. Brown to be the best plowman in the open classes, best crown and best finish.

A.D. Robinson, RR4 Ingersoll won the Oxford county open sod class while Myron Cleary of Oxford Centre won first place in the stubble class for residents of East and West Oxford townships.

Other first prize winners were:  Robert Wright, RR1 Beachville in the 22 and under class.  Keith Cody of Beachville in the 16 and under class; Wray Jeffrey of RR4 Woodstock in the two furrow tractor class; Alex Black of RR2 Guelph, in the open tractor class.

Open sod - R.G. Brown, RR7 Galt; Clifford Cox, Wanstead; R.O. Brush, RR2 Wyoming.

Oxford county sod - A.D. Robinson, RR4 Ingersoll; Harry Blackman, RR4 Ingersoll; Geo. Jakeman, RR1 Beachville; Russell Pellow, RR4 Woodstock; Fred Bertrand, RR4 Woodstock; Russell Masson, RR1 Woodstock; Fred Howard, RR3 Woodstock; Howard Chilton, Beachville; best crown, A.D. Robinson; best finish, Harry Blackman.

Sod, 22 and under - Robert Wright, RR1 Beachville; Murray Budd, RR5 Ingersoll; best crown, Robert Wright; best finish, Murray Budd.

Sod or stubble, 19 and under - Ross Hargreaves, RR1 Beachville; John Masson, RR1 Woodstock; Fred Williams, RR5 Ingersoll; Glen Bartram, RR1 Salford; Kenneth Wade, RR1 Woodstock.

Stubble, 16 and under - Keith Cody, Beachville

Stubble, East and West Oxford townships - Myron Cleary, Oxford Centre; Dick Marriage, RR1 Curries; David Kirkpatrick, Curries; Charles Miller, RR1 Woodstock;  best crown, Myron Cleary; best finish, Dick Marriage.

Tractor, sod, open - Alex Black, RR2 Guelph; John Hall, RR3 Ayr.

Two furrow tractor plows - Wray Jeffrey, RR4 Woodstock; Clarence Zinn, RR6 Woodstock; Chas. Williams, RR5 Ingersoll.

Three furrow tractor plows - John Hargreaves Jr., RR1 Beachville; Norman Schell, Woodstock; Wilfred Gray, RR1 Woodstock.

Best plow team - Murray Budd, RR5 Ingersoll; Bert Siple, Curries.

Best plowed land, open to West Oxford, trophy donated by New Commercial Hotel - A.D. Robinson, RR4 Ingersoll.

Best plowed land, open to East Oxford, trophy donated by Bank of Commerce, won by Lorne Richardson, RR4 Woodstock.

Best plowed land, open to class 2 - Eugene Lefler Memorial Trophy donated by Lefler Bros., Woodstock - A.D. Robinson, RR4 Ingersoll.

November 4th Friday, 1938 was the Ingersoll Junior Farmers Match at the James Bloor farm, North Oxford, widely known as the Hayes farm, one mile north of the North American Cyanimid plant, starting 9am.

Saturday's paper of November 5th, front page, has a photograph of the contestants of the horse drawing contest held at 4 o'clock before a large audience.  George Franklins team of Percherons pulled a load of almost three tons of rock from the Cyamid quarry.  Harry Blackman won the plowing contest.

Fred Bertrand cared for and trained the horses at the County Home Farm on the eleventh line of East Zorra (RR3 Woodstock).  He married the love of his life, May Howesworth on December 3, 1938.  She was caretaker for the patients at the home.  The couple moved to East Oxford Lot 13, Conc. 4 (RR4 Woodstock) where they share cropped a farm owned by Frank Jackson (north half).  When Frank passed away (1950), Jim McDowell bought the farm.  Fred and May purchased their own farm in Perth county.

Fred Bertrand competing with his team and plow was taken 1939 or 1940.
Thanks to the Bertrand family for submitting the above photo.

Fred Bertrand passed away September 9th,2001.  His son Bryan Bertrand is a well-known plowing competitor and judge in Perth county.

Prior to 1943, the Oxford County Plowing Match was known as the East and West Oxford Plowing Match.  Horses pulling a one furrow walking plow were the preferred method of competitive plowing.  Of eleven classes in 1942, seven were for horses, four for tractors.  Dedicated livestock caregivers loved their horses and showing what they could do.  The horse on the right was trained to walk one foot ahead of the other in the furrow without stepping on the plowed or unplowed side.

In 1939, Friday October 20, at the farm of Verne Meek, one mile south and east of Ingersoll, Fred placed second in Class two, sod, open to Oxford residents only.

In 1940, at the farm of Leslie Thornton, 3 miles south of Woodstock, Fred placed third (out of eight in the class).  There were 10 classes.

Fred started competitive plowing,listed in Class 7,1937,residing in East Oxford.In 1938,he was 5th in Oxford's match, still residing in East Oxford.His name will be found many times in subsequent years.

1937

In April of 1937 when 6" of rain fell in 5 days, the entire west end of London had to be evacuated.  The North Branch of the Thames rose 15' at Fanshawe north of London.  On the morning of April 27, the river reached a height of 21'6" above the mean summer flow.  Five deaths were attributed to the flood.  Near Beachville, a CNR passenger train charged off the undermined tracks killing the engineer and fireman and "a transient riding the rails".  An Ingersoll doctor rushing to administer to the injured drowned when his car plunged into the Thames after a bridge gave way.  A London man drowned when he was swept from a rescue boat.

Ernest Charles Drury had rejoined the Liberal Party.  Hepburn made him the sheriff of Simcoe County, a minor position, but he was inside the county administration building where he could lobby for more forests.  Four men - Drury, Edmund Zavitz, Monroe Landon, and Watson Porter launched the Ontario Conservation and Reforestation Association.  Porter, who owned the London based Farmers Advocate newspaper wrote:  "Something must be wrong when farmers are obliged to draw water in the summer and must be rescued in lifeboats from their upstairs windows in the winter."  It was pitiful to see cattle milling around dried-up water holes in summer because wells that had never failed before went dry.  The aforementioned four men, especially Edmund Zavitz, were the environmental conscience of the Conservative government from 1923-1934, but they had no power under Hepburn.

Today the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority in Oxford County is one of 36 in Ontario that Zavitz initiated.  The largest in south-western Ontario is the Middlesex County Forest (began in 1938) sometimes referred to as  "Skunks Misery".  Now it is over 800 ha in size.

 According to "The Axe and the Wheel" history of West Oxford,  Mr. Hargreaves reported that 1937 was the first official match of East and West Oxford (they had an executive) held on his farm Lot 8 Conc. 2 West Oxford and they finished with an oyster supper.  Leslie Curry was treasurer and held that office until September of 1945.

EAST OXFORD PLOWING MATCH HELD IN RAIN  S.Review Tuesday 5th Oct.

There were 10 classes.  The entire match was held in the rain making it difficult for judge W.C. Barrie from Galt.  The placings were:

Class 1 (open sod):

1. John R. Hargreaves, RR1 Beachville
2. W.J. Harrison, RR7 Galt
3. R.G. Brown, RR7 Galt
4. Marshall Deans, Paris

Best crown W.J. Harrison

Best finish John Hargreaves

Class 2 (sod - open to Oxford residents):

1. Harry Blackman, RR4 Ingersoll

2. Arlington Robinson, RR4 Ingersoll

3. Fred Howard, RR3 Woodstock

4. L.J. Richardson, RR4 Woodstock

5. Charlie Williams, RR5 Ingersoll

6. Howard Chilton, RR1 Beachville

7. Russell Masson, RR1 Woodstock

Best crown Harry Blackman
Best finish L.J. Richardson

Class 3 (Oxford County Boys Under 23):
1. George Jakeman, Beachville, R.R.1
2. Donald Crawford, Beachville, R.R.2
3. Mervin Cuthbert, Curries

Best crown and finish, George Jakeman.

Class 4 (stubble open to Oxford boys under 20), no entries.
Class 5 (stubble, open to Oxford boys under 17):
1. R.  Hargreaves, Beachville, R.R.1
2. F. Williams, Ingersoll, R.R.5
3. J. Masson, Woodstock, R.R.1

Best crown and finish, R. Hargreaves.

Class 6 (stubble, open to members of Bonds' U.F.Y.P.O):
1. Leslie Curry, Woodstock, R.R.1
2. B. Karn, Woodstock, R.R.1

Best crown and finish, Leslie Curry.

Class 7 (East Oxford amateurs):
1. Fred Bertrand, Woodstock, R.R.4.

Class 8 (West Oxford amateurs):
1. Russell Pellow, Beachville, R.R.1.

Class 9 (Tractor, sod, open):
1. Alex Black, Guelph, R.R.2
2. John Hall, Ayr, R.R.3B

Best crown and finish, Alex Black.

Class 10 (tractor, Oxford county residents):
1. Gordon Masson, Woodstock, R.R.1
2. Clarence Zinn, Woodstock, R.R.6
3. George Calder, Woodstock
4. Lloyd Goodall, Woodstock, R.R.7

Best crown, C. Zinn
Best finish, G. Masson.

SPECIAL AWARDS

Best plough team - 1. Howard Chilton; 2. Arlington Robinson.

Best team and equipment - 1. Russell Masson; 2. John Hargreaves.

Best ploughed land (open to East Oxford) - 1. Lorne Richardson.

Best ploughed land open to class 2 - 1. Harry Blackman.

City Dairy specials - 1. Ross Hargreaves; 2. Fred Williams.

Best ploughed land (restricted) - 1. George Jakeman.

Eckhart Donation - 1. John Hargreaves.

The Albert John Harrington Eckhardt donation, a four-piece tea service and tray given annually for the best ploughed land was won by J.R. Hargreaves.  To qualify for this award, contestants must reside in one of the counties which comprise district number 7 - Oxford, Brant, Norfolk, Waterloo, and Wellington.

Sharing honors with the contestants who worked in the driving rain, were the ladies of the district who maintained a cheery atmosphere in the dining tent and managed to serve up a welcomed hot meal at noon despite the conditions.

Sentinel Review 12th October, Tuesday 1937

Fergus, Ontario PLOWMEN COMPETE IN POURING RAIN

One hundred men and a woman set out through pouring rain for their allotted plots as the 24th International Plowing Match began at Beatty Bros. farms in Wellington County.

Sentinel Review 13th October, Wednesday front page NEW AGRICULTURE MINISTER

Hon. Patrick Michael Dewan B.A., B.Sc.A., member elect for Oxford was assigned portfolio of Agriculture in the Hepburn government.

Sentinel Review Saturday, 16th October 1937

At the IPM banquet in Fergus, Dewan, addressing 1000 guests, requested the confidence of farmers in administering  the largest and most important department of government - Agriculture Minister.  He promised that continued consideration would be given to farmers interests because, he said, "Where you find a good plowman you will find a good farmer and a good grower of seed, and a good manager."  He complimented all competitors paying special tribute to Miss Maisie M. Nicklin of Ariss, the only plowwoman of the match.  Ladies too, have entered these contests, and in the years to come plowing matches may be revolutionized.

Sentinel Review Monday, 18th October City and District

John Hargreaves, at Fergus last week, won the Frost trophy, emblematic of the championship for the best plowed field in sod.

The 2nd Annual Ingersoll Junior Farmers Plowing match ad appeared  October 21.