Canadian Plowing competition returns to Ontario
August 3, 2014 by admin
Filed under Lingerie Events
Farmers from across the country will demonstrate their talents in the Follow the Furrow to Purple Hill Canadian Plowing Championships in Thorndale, on the outskirts of London, from Aug. 14 to 16.
They will demonstrate their furrow finesse at Purple Hill Oprey Farm, run by Anna and George Taylor, at 20903 Purple Hill Road, five kilometres east of London.
The annual competition, dubbed CanPlow, moves between five member provinces — British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick.
It took the organizing skills of plowing associations from the counties of Middlesex, Oxford and Brant to mount CanPlow 2014. They are the Brant-Six Nations Plowmen’s Association, the Blenheim Township Plowmen’s Association, Oxford Plowmen’s Association and the Middlesex Plowmen’s Association.
“It’s in Ontario every fifth year and associations across the province were competing to host it,” said Donna Telfer, secretary treasurer of the Brant-Six Nations group who is chairing the organizing committee of this year’s championship.
The farm has to have 100 acres suitable for plowing, as well as space for all the show’s events, she said.
“We really wanted to get this prestigious competition in this area of Ontario this year, but there wasn’t a suitable location in Brant, so we partnered with the others to get it outside London, still close to Brant and Oxford.”
Telfer said the partners are “excited” to win the right to host the competition, after working for a year to get the nod.
There are three main classes of competition: senior reversible plow, senior convention plow and a junior conventional plow.
There are also demonstrations of horse plowing and antique plowing.
Visitors can go to Canadian Village to peruse exhibits. There’s also an artisans market, alpaca shows, rare breed exhibitions and a Victorian-era lingerie show.
“One of our goals is to educate our urban cousins,” said Telfer.
The opening ceremonies are on Aug. 14 at 9 a.m, with a colour guard by the Canadian Cowgirls, and award-winning precision horse shows.
There will be plowing competitions all three days.
On Aug. 15, visitors can join in Antique Car and Truck Cruisin’. There are also Antique Tractor Club displays.
Closing ceremonies and a parade of winners will be held Aug. 16.
Admission is $5 per person and children get in free.
michael-allan.marion@sunmedia.ca
