20/21 International Plowing Match & Rural Expo is Moving Forward
Directors and staff of the Ontario Plowmen’s Association are proud to announce that they will be “Moving Forward” with plans for the 20/21 International Plowing Match (IPM) and Rural Expo. While continuing to honour and respect the health situation and health regulations caused by Covid-19, the organizers will be simultaneously planning both the traditional IPM and a re-envisioned IPM.
Local and Provincial volunteers look forward to welcoming visitors to the Municipality of Kawartha Lakes from Wednesday, October 13th to Saturday, October 16th. As planned, the IPM will be hosted on the Lindsay Fairgrounds and neighbouring farms.
The traditional IPM features such as the BMO Plowing Competition, the Hydro One Education and the Queen of the Furrow Competition presented by Ontario Mutuals may look a little different this year but you can be assured they will be just as exciting and memorable.
Alternate designs for both the Tented City and the RV Park are being developed. The revised designs will protect our exhibitors, volunteers and visitors with additional health protocols.
“Our provincial and local volunteers will be ramping up their committee planning with conference calls and video calls. And, we really look forward to the in-person committee and community meetings that we will be held just as soon as the provincial health situation allows”, said Don Priest, vice-president of the Ontario Plowmen’s Association.
As part of their commitment to the community, and through the generosity of the Celebrate Ontario grant programme, the Ontario Plowmen’s Association was pleased to partner with the Lindsay Agricultural Society to present the “Merry and Bright Festival”. The IPM display highlighted some of the features you will be able to see in-person at the 20/21 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo.
Visitors and volunteers are urged to check additional plans and progress by visiting the IPM 20/21 website.
February 10, 2021
Merry and Bright Festival brings Joy to Community
For almost 8,000 people, happiness and hope were experienced at the “Merry and Bright” Christmas Light Festival. The drive-through event was organized and hosted by the 20/21 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM) and the Lindsay Agricultural Society (LAS).
The Lindsay Fairgrounds were transformed into a winter wonderland light spectacular from December 18th to 23d. But, it was heartbreaking for all when the event had to be shut down as a result of the Provincial Government’s Covid-19 lockdown orders.
More than 30 displays and five video projection presentations from Companies, Associations and Individuals provided a beautiful reminder of the true spirit of the Christmas Season and honoured the event theme of Christmas on the Farm. In addition to the IPM display that depicted the highlights of an IPM, the video projection on a LAS Building invited visitors to experience all that the IPM in October 2021 would have to offer.
In keeping with the philosophy of the IPM, the proceeds from the Merry and Bright Festival will be shared with local charitable organizations.
Through the generosity of the Ontario Government’s Celebrate Ontario grant programme, the IPM was a proud partner in this great opportunity to showcase IPM 20/21 and the host
community.
IPM 20/21 will run from Wednesday, October 13 to Saturday, October 16, 2021 at the Lindsay Exhibition grounds in Kawartha Lakes and will showcase agriculture, rural living and community.
Link to the Photo Gallery and Video Projection...
COVID-19 Province-wide Shutdown
In response to Covid-19 provincial shutdown restrictions, OPA & IPM 20/21 Staff must work from home.
The Guelph OPA Office and the Lindsay IPM 20/21 Office will be temporarily closed during this time. If you have any questions during the shutdown, please contact us via phone (519-767-2928 / 1-800-661-7569) or by email (cathy@plowingmatch.org).
We wish you the very best and a safe & happy New Year.
Notice re: OPA Annual Meeting
The Ontario Government’s “State of Emergency” and “Stay-a-Home” ruling may delay the audit process of the Ontario Plowmen’s Association’s 2020 financial transactions. As a result, the OPA Directors have decided to pause the plans for the virtual Annual General Meeting. The length of the government’s measures to conquer Covid-19 will determine the plans for the OPA’s Annual Meeting.
We will continue to communicate with Branch Associations but please check the OPA website for updates.
If you have any questions, please contact any OPA Director.
Thank you for your understanding…stay healthy…stay safe.
HIGHLIGHTING OUR FUTURE
2021 Special Edition Calendar - Call for Submissions!
Deadline Extended until October 15th
The Ontario Plowmen’s Association is pleased to HIGHLIGHT THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE PLOWING FAMILY in our 2021 Special Edition Calendar. We know that these young people are the future of the Ontario Plowmen’s Association and the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo. We don’t want to let their talents, enthusiasm and leadership go unnoticed. We want to highlight them!
- Open to plowing enthusiasts 30 years or younger.
- Must reside in the province of Ontario.
- Must be involved in Plowing either as a Plowing Competitor, Queen of the Furrow, Princess of the Furrow, 4-H Sodbusters Member or Plowing Volunteer.
- Send digital photo to cathy@plowingmatch.org by OCTOBER 15th, 2020 (NOTE: photos need to be full size, high resolution 300 dpi; they can be saved as jpgs or tiffs). It must be a close identifiable image of the individual(s) showing their involvement.
- Printed photos (high quality) can be accepted but digital is preferred.
- Include an approximate 50-word description that identifies the person(s), their involvement and accomplishments.
- All submissions require a completed photo release form.
For further information, contact:
Rochelle Deslippe, Committee Contact
Phone: 519-551-8361
Email: rochelle.deslippe@gmail.com
OR
Ontario Plowmen’s Association
519-767-2928 OR 1-800-6617569
Email: cathy@plowingmatch.org
