Media Kit for IPM 2018

Running Sept. 18 to 22 in Pain Court (Chatham-Kent), the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM ) is a five-day celebration of agriculture and rural living. Gates open at 8:30 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. each day.

The largest event of its kind in North America, the IPM features a wide range of performers and live musical acts, displays and demonstrations, hundreds of vendors in Tented City, world record attempts and, of course, plowing competitions. Don’t forget the rodeo, Canadian Cowgirls precision drill team and Team Farmall dancing tractors, as well as the Queen and Princess of the Furrow competitions.

Visitors to the IPM are asked to take part in several Guinness World Record attempts, including Largest Egg and Spoon Race on Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 2 p.m. and Most People Bobbing for Apples at One Time on Thursday, Sept. 20 at 10:30 a.m.

This year marks the 101^st IPM. It travels the province and is hosted in a different community each year, typically attracting 80,000+ people from throughout Ontario, the rest of Canada and the United States.

The 2018 IPM is the culmination of years of preparations from the Chatham-Kent Local Organizing Committee, in partnership with the Ontario Plowmen’s Association (OPA). Presenting partners are BMO Bank of Montreal, Hydro One and Ontario Mutual Insurance Association, with additional support from the Province of Ontario and many other sponsors (see the full sponsorship list).

Media inquires should be directed toward IPM 2018 media committee co-chairs Brian Warall and Simon Crouch, and/or Richard Vivian, marketing and communications co-ordinator for the Ontario Plowmen’s Association.

To download the full IPM 2018 Show Guide in whole or in useful bits and pieces click here. Note: Some event schedule details have changed. Please download the individual schedule pages for the most up-to-date information

For a full list of the IPM 2018 executive and committee chairs, click here.

For an archive of IPM 2018 news releases, click here.

Photos from Media Day (held Sept. 5): For high-res versions, click on the images below to open in a new window and use your “Save As” function.

2017-18 Ontario Queen of the Furrow Kailey Donaldson, who is soon to hand on her crown to a new queen, is joined by veteran Belgian plowing horses Nick and Jeff, and IPM 2018 Mascot Tobe Cobe Jr.

Horse plower Nelson Sage, with his plowing team Nick and Jeff, instruct Official Mascot Tobe Cobe Jr. in the fine aft of plowing with horses.

Ontario Plowmen's Association President David Murray addresses the crowd during Media Day on Sept. 5. An event of this size, he stressed, couldn't happen without the support Presenting Partners BMO Bank of Montreal, Hydro One and Ontario Mutual Insurance Association, in addition to the many other sponsors.

IPM 2018 Co-Chairs Leon Leclair (left) and Darren Canniff note the strong support for IPM 2018 in the Chatham-Kent community, including local sponsors and hundreds of volunteers.

General Photos: For high-res versions, click on the images below to open in a new window and use your “Save As” function.

The IPM 2018 mascot is Tobe Cobe Jr. His name reflect the agricultural production in Chatham-Kent:

TO – Tomato, BE – Beets, CO – Corn, BE – Beans.

Nelson Sage, with his horses Jeff and Nick, of Thamesville is a veteran competitor at County Matches for years. This September he will mark his 31st consecutive year of plowing in the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo.