1978

The 12th Annual Cheese and Wine Festival of '78 lasted nine days, from the 14^th to the 23^rd of September.

Twenty young women vied for the position of the previous year's festival queen, Heather Gordon. The Embro Fair, held Sept 16-18, was ruined by rain. The following weekend was Drumbo fair. The plowmen's association welcomed any of these girls to contest for Queen of the Furrow. Since Elizabeth Eddy was the first Oxford Queen ('74-'75), Oxford has been represented by a queen at IPM every year.

Cheryl Ann West R.1, Lakeside, represented Oxford County at the '78 IPM held near Wingham, Bruce County, on Jim Armstrong's farm and neighbours. Neil Armstrong, astronaut, opened the match. 1978 was unusually dry. Eugene Whelan said Canadians did not know what poverty is. A 5-year GIC could earn 9.75% annual interest.

Oxford plowmen's treasury had a true balance of $154.45 to start the '78 year. More publicity was required. Les Dickson became president, with John Walton,-1st Vice and John Innes,-2nd Vice. Les Dickson and John Walton attended the Convention. John Capton was the first choice for judge, and Ray Montague, second choice; Stan Wallace was to be the horse judge.
The prize money was raised to compare with other matches: $30 for 1st, $25 for 2nd, $20 for 3rd; rules were revised to reflect the IPM standards. An open split crown was required for classes 2-6 inclusive. An open split crown means that all soil beneath the crown must be moved or cut off, and ideally, still be level, with no green grass showing.

The prize money for Queen contestants was raised to $20.

John Innes purchased cheese for the businessmen's and municipal officials class, usually 5 lbs. each.

The 1978 Oxford match was held Saturday, 21 October, east of Hickson, on the farm of Allan Gunn.

Cheryl Ann West was selected Oxford Queen of the Furrow.

Two other matches held the same day cut attendance.

Harry Parrot, Ontario's new environment minister, quashed Dofasco Steel's dumping plan to use the Beachville quarry, S.Review, Sept.23rd, front page. Iron oxide pollution was his concern; Harry was also greatly involved in the 1980 IPM committee.

Arlington D.Robinson passed away July 23rd, 1978. A summary of his life was taken from Oxford W.I.Tweedsmuir History Book One pg. A170, O.G.S

The hydraulic ram article is another example of the ingenuity of the farmers who have gone before us. The ram was exhumed from the farm now owned by Jim and Daphne Morton, 11th Line, E.Zorra.

Art Dale,right, and John Hofstetter, left, corn cob mascot in centre, at Wingham, announcing the
1980 IPM for Oxford County.

Oxford display at IPM 1978, mannequin & flowers

Display 78; map of Oxford & arrow to location          

1977

Bill Weatherston remained president. Les Dickson took on the role of vice president. Each man held a position on the 1980 Oxford IPM committee, and both attended the convention in Toronto.
The 21 directors were:

Wilfred Corp	John Hargreaves	Athur Dale	Jim Richardson
Leroy Scott	Robert Gilholm	Clair Minler	John Hofstetter
Orville Fried	John Innes	Fred Fleming	Ken Peers
Ross Hargreaves	Les Dickson	Ross Pullen	Donald Wright
Weldon Burrill	Ron Hutcheson	Arthur Eddy	Henry Van Dorp
Jerry Daniel ( new member)

Reverend Ken Innes of Brussels was the judge for the 1977 Oxford Plowing Match, held on the John Innes farm, Saturday, Oct.22nd, north of Embro.

The Brooksdale United Church Women prepared 50 lunches for the plowmen at noon. The banquet was held Saturday night at the Fairview Centre.

Cheryl Ann West was crowned Oxford Queen of the Furrow.

OPA director Weldon Burrill reported that the 1977 IPM at Kingston had been a financial loss due to wet weather.

1976

The 1976 OPA had 42 directors, each one representing their county club, and an executive of ten. All directors were on action committees.

Serving on the Oxford club were: President Bill Weatherston; 1st Vice Ross Pullen; 2nd Vice John Walton; secretary Don Taylor; treasurer Clare Hartley, and OPA  director Weldon Burrill.
Harold Masson and Bill Weatherston were delegates to the OPA Convention held in Toronto (Feb.18th). Six members of the Ingersoll Pipe Band also went to promote the 1980 IPM, in the same manner as the 1951 IPM had been. The band members in attendance were: Wilson McBeath; Don Munro; Mike Hominick; Angus McGachie; Angus McArthur and Jim Muterer.

 Wilson McBeth is an Ingersoll icon and is proud to say that the Ingersoll Pipe Band is 108 years old. It is the only pipe band in N. America that own their own building, where they practise every Thursday night.

 Carol Coglin represented Oxford at the IPM held in Bruce County near Walkerton, on Earl Johnson farms, during the last week of September. She was named Oxford Queen of the Furrow again in 1976, when the county match was held at Henry Van Dorp's farm, Saturday Oct.23rd. The ladies of the Christian Reform Church and Mrs. John Werkema served lunches for the plowmen at noon.

Les Dickson announced his resignation as Mayor of Norwich Township (S.Review, Sept.20,pg.9). He was the Vice Chairman of the 1980 IPM committee.

The banquet, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, was held at the Shrine Club.

The proposed GM site on the Stuart Canfield farm depicts the urban-rural issue, still relevant today. Politicians and society in general regard our most precious resource as, 'just farmers' fields'.
Keith Currie, current president of OFA states "They don't have to farm because we are, they don't have to grow food because we are." (Ont.Farmer, pg.24A, May15, 2018.by Diana Martin) The more things change the more they stay the same.

The Burrill Family supplied horses and equipment for the horse show and businessmen's class. Weldon Burrill sold horses to six U.S. States, in Ontario, and Quebec. Raised on a farm one mile south of Holbrook, he was only without a horse for one year of his life. He lived to age 90.
When Weldon was away he often delegated tasks to his sons Bruce and Harold. Bruce was the horseman.

One winter day they were sent to the Holbrook farm woodlot with a Minneapolis Moline rowcrop tractor to get firewood. They had to cross a small valley; their father thought the ice would be strong enough to support the tractor, but that wasn't the case. With the tractor stuck in the ice, the boys walked home, got a team of horses, a chain, and a whippletree to pull the tractor out. Bruce hooked the whippletree up short to the drawbar of the tractor so it would lift at the same time as it was pulling. When Weldon got home Bruce explained what happened. Weldon said, "I must have taught you something," and there were no consequences. Weldon was a difficult taskmaster.
The Burrills moved to their farm that touched on the north side of Hickson Village (Hwy59) in 1966.
Weldon and Bruce exhibited their Clydesdale horses from Oshawa to Leamington, at fall fairs, the CNE, and plowing matches. They had their own tractor trailer, loaded with 20 horses, going to the Oshawa Fair; they entered every horse class at the Fair which is non-existent now. There were classes for: six horse hitch; four horse hitch; unicorn hitch (ie three horses led by one horse at the front); light and heavy draft teams, down to 3 year olds, 2 year olds, and yearlings.

Bruce and Marg were married in 1970. In the 70s, on the 100th anniversary of the CNE, Marg won the heavy horse driving class for ladies.

Weldon Burrill was OPA director for Oxford County for 12 years, from 1975 to 1987. When the 1980 IPM was held in Oxford he became a director on the Provincial Association. They always took the OPA Director from the county that hosted the IPM that year.

Wilson McBeth

Jim Muterer

 

Les Dickson

 

1975

Clare Hartley was treasurer of Oxford Plowmen's. Leroy Scott was auditor. New directors were Ross Pullen, R7 Woodstock; Don Wright, R3 Woodstock, and John Walton, R7 Woodstock.
Max Franklin dropped out. Art Dale and Bill Weatherston were delegates to the OPA convention.

A grant of $700 was requested from County Council by OPA directors Weldon Burrill and Jim Richardson.

SEPT 18

The Sentinel Review reported: Harry Parrot wins landslide victory over Alice Garner, but the Provincial Tories of Bill Davis took a stinging. The province had a minority government with the NDP of Bob Nixon holding the balance of power.

The proposed landfill site near Salford and expropriation issues raised the ire of farm folks; this was their new regional government of 1975.

Competitions for Dairy Princess, Queen of Furrow, and Fall Fair Ambassador were great opportunities for farm girls; Oxford County's first Queen of the Furrow, Elizabeth Eddy represented Oxford at the 1975 IPM held in Durham region near Oshawa Sept 23-27.

Bill Weatherston and Art Dale were in charge of the Oxford Queen of the Furrow competition held in the morning of Saturday Oct.18, on farm of Clare Hartley. Contestants were Kathy Langdon, Donna Fleming, and Carol Coglin.

The Tenth Line Ladies served 33 lunches at noon. Marshall Deans, Paris and John Capton, Ohsweken judged the plowing.

Elizabeth Eddy entered Class 6 (ladies).
The placings were: Mary Opersko, Elizabeth Eddy, and Debbie Cheyne. Debbie became Elizabeth' sister-in-law. She married Gord Eddy in 1976. She was not the first girl to win their life partner at a plowing match.

Other listings in order of merit:

Class 2: Bob Brown; Leslie Perriman and Reg Opersko
Class 3: Ed Opersko; Orville Fried; Ron Kay and Gord Eddy
Class 4:Bert Perriman; Kevin Fried and Brian Fried
Class 5: Stephen Hartley and Alex Hartley
Class 7: Clare Hartley; Steven Hartley; Alex Hartley; Harvey Masson; Bob McPherson and John Buchanan

Some competitors entered two classes.

Cecil Wells won Class one (walking plows), and was an easy winner in Class 9.
Father and son, Weldon and Bruce Burrill were 2nd and 3rd also in class 9.

The Chamber of Commerce again sponsored a banquet at the fairgrounds.

Carol Coglin was crowned 1975-76 Oxford Queen of the Furrow.

The Plowmen's Association provided free banquet tickets to competitors, judges, the Provincial Queen of the Furrow, Dawn Brunton (2), county queen competitors, Mr. and Mrs.Robert Buchanan and the Queen of Furrow competition judges.

Liz Eddy, at home, striking off to IPM Oshawa (Sept 23-27)

Liz Eddy, wearing her Oxford 1975 Queen of the Furrow sash

Oxford Cty Plowmen's banquet at Oxford Auditorium; Carol Coglin is awarded 1976 Queen of Furrow. From left: Carol Coglin, Liz Eddy, Donna Fleming and Kathy Langdon.

Outgoing Queen, Liz Eddy, places tiara on 1976 Queen Carol Coglin.

Liz eddy represents Oxford, along with 21 Queens from across Ontario.

Liz eddy represents Oxford, along with 21 Queens from across Ontario.

Liz Eddy.

Debbie Cheyne (left), LizEddy (centre) and Gord Eddy (right).

W Leslie Dickson

1924-1993

History

As a long time resident of Norwich Township, W. Leslie (Les) Dickson operated a 135-acre Holstein Farm and apple orchard north of Burgessville and was at one time a sales representative for the Oxford County Holstein Breeders Association. Interested in local politics, Les was an eight year veteran of the North Norwich Township Council, serving as Deputy Reeve for four years and Reeve for 2 years prior to being elected County Warden in 1973. During his time on County Council, he served on the Finance Committee, Agriculture Committee, Personnel Committee and was a representative on the County Planning Board.

He was an active member of the Norwich and District Historical Society Committee which operates the Norwich District Museum, a Board Member of Woodingford Lodge, a member of the Oxford Museum Board and actively involved in the establishment of the Norwich Community Centre/Arena.

Les Dickson was also committed to woodlot management and the preservation of native Canadian trees. His love of nature was instrumental in the establishment of the County Arboretum in 1974 which was later named the W. Leslie Dickson Arboretum in his honour.

Married to Helen Elliott of Burgessville, Leslie Dickson passed away December 3, 1993 in his 69th year.

W.Leslie Dickson Arboretum

Site Address: 715570 Oxford 4 RD • East Zorra, Tavistock

Dedicated to the memory of W.L.Dickson. This little 6 ha (20 acres) jewel is a product of a group called The Men of the Trees. They have worked very hard to provide in excess of 150 labeled native trees and shrubs.

1974

The IPM was held in Halton County near Georgetown, on the farm of Craig Reid, Sept 24-28.

Harold Masson was president of the Oxford Plowmen's, with Jim Richardson as 1st Vice; Bill Weatherston, 2nd Vice; Ron Hutcheson, treasurer and Don Taylor, Secretary.

The directors were: Art Dale, John Hargreaves, Fred Fleming, Leroy Scott, Clare Hartley, Robert Gilholm, Ed Eddy, Ross Hargreaves, Glen Kitchen, Ken Peers, Clare Minler, John Hofstetter, Orville Fried, John Innes, Willard Mackay, Wilfred Corp, and Max Franklin.

Ed Eddy continued as OPA director. G.E. Hessenauer was auditor.

March 20, 1974: An Agricultural Committee of County Council was organized to bring the IPM to Oxford in 1980. The Committee, directors of Blenheim and Oxford Plowmen, was promoted by the Chamber of Commerce, who offered to sponsor a banquet with entertainment close to the Oxford match date. The date was changed to Oct.19 instead of Oct.12. Don Taylor wrote a letter to County Council thanking them for their support and the Association requested their help for an approach for the 1980 IPM in Oxford County at the next Ontario Annual meeting (Feb.75).

Harold Masson, Bill Weatherston, and John Hofstetter went to the OPA convention with an invitation to have the IPM in Oxford in 1980. Upon his return Bill stated that 20 memberships were mandatory (to have a director on the provincial board).

Les Dickson, a sales representative for Oxford Holsteins came on as a director.
Les was Oxford warden in 1973, and was defeated by Perry Sibbick Oct.30, 1974.
He was a county sales agent for over 25 years and wrote A history of the County Sales Agent System.
 
Art Dale and Bill Weatherston approached the Junior Farmer presidents and secretaries requesting entries for the Queen of Furrow competition.

Buchanan Farm Equipment offered $20 prize money to each entrant. To encourage entries, awards for crown and finish were eliminated in all classes.

By Sept. 30 three names had been submitted for the Queen contest: Elizabeth Eddy, Janet Peters, and Carol Coglin. The winner received a travelling case from Buchanans. The girls had a practise run at the farm of Harold Masson with John Hargreaves coaching. The girls had to make a 3-5 minute speech on the topic, "Why I'm Proud of Agriculture in Oxford."

Eugene Whelan, in the news most every day, opened the Swine Centre on 11 October at the former Ontario Hospital barns operating under a management contract with Western  Ontario Breeders. It was the first of its kind in North America.

1973

Verne Pullen hosted the 1973 Oxford Match on the Innerkip sideroad, 2 miles east of #59 Hwy, Oct.13th. It was more of a fun day for the Chamber of Commerce. Mary Gilmore, a Sentinel Review reporter described it well.

Albert Roberts was President of Oxford Plowmen's this year, following the retirement of Weldon Burrill, with Harold Masson, !st Vice and Jim Richardson, 2nd Vice.
The Directors were: Doug Start; Wilfred Corp; John Hargreaves; Clare Hartley; John Summerhayes, Ross Hargreaves, Willard Mackay, Ed Eddy, Arthur Dale, Harold Masson, Jim Richardson; Leroy Scott and Bill Weatherston.

Doug Start passed away early in 1973.

The treasurer's book recorded that Woodstock Print&Litho printed prize lists and posters; Innerkip UCW served meals; S.Review printed the notice, and S.T. Loveys were paid for the lumber to build an outhouse.
S.Review, Oct.3rd,pg 11

Tavistock and East Zorra agreed to amalgamation when restructuring of the County begins Jan.1st, 1975.

The Annual Corn Day was held at the Brooksdale farm of Allan Innes, four miles north of Embro.

Borden Company workers in Ingersoll went on strike. The Ingersoll workers received 40-50 cents per hour less than the Belmont workers. They had no clause for severance pay if the plant closed as the Belmont Borden plant workers had.

IPM 1973 was held in Lambton County on the farm of J.D. McGugan, near Alvinston, Sept. 25-29.

The Mayors plowing class, held on the last day, had tractors and equipment supplied.
They did not have to make a crown or finish. Each competitor had to plow two rounds, and were judged on the basis of work performed. This included the handling of a tractor.
Unlike other contestants they did not have to pay an entry fee, but had to apply to the secretary-manager of the Ontario Plowmen's Association no later than September 15 in Toronto.

The Horseshoe Pitching Contest, also held on Saturday, and required an entry fee of $4, forwarded to the secretary-manager, by September 14.
Each entry was made up of two players, each from their respective counties.
The pitching distance was 40 feet.
A ringer was a shoe that encircled the stake far enough to permit a straight edge to touch the heel calks simultaneously.
All shoes had to be within seven inches of the stake to score.
The closest shoe to the stake scored one point.
Two shoes closer than their opponents scored 2 points.
One ringer scored 3 points with two ringers scoring 6 points.
The winning team received the Alex McKinney Challenge Trophy.
 Additional cash awards provided by the OPA were: 1st-$40, 2nd-$30, 3rd-$25, 4th-$20, 5th-$15 and 6th to 10th teams received $10 each.

Albert Roberts passed away December 10, 1973.

Liz Jackson (Eddy) and Albert Roberts

Bill, Gord and Liz Eddy