For five days in September, the fields of Bruce County became a gathering place for thousands of people connected by a common passion for agriculture, rural life and farming traditions.
The 107th International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM), held September 22 to 26, combined competition, education and community celebration while highlighting the deep roots of agriculture in Ontario. Although plowing excellence remains the cornerstone of the event, this year's match also shone a spotlight on rural heritage, youth engagement and the volunteers who help keep agricultural traditions alive.
Throughout the week, visitors experienced a series of five themed parades that reflected the many dimensions of rural life.
The opening-day parade recognized community leaders, agricultural organizations, farm families and supporters who contribute to the strength of rural Ontario. Later, the Trucks and Tractors Parade drew spectators eager to see restored farm trucks, antique tractors, classic pickups and modern agricultural equipment rolling side by side.
Young people became the stars of the show during the Children's Parade, which featured decorated bicycles, school groups, dance organizations, colourful floats and plenty of creativity. The event underscored the importance of youth involvement in rural communities and agriculture.
The popular Combines Parade showcased the remarkable evolution of harvest technology, bringing together antique harvesting equipment, restored machines and modern combines. Closing the week was Bruce County Farming Through the Ages, a parade that guided spectators through generations of agricultural history with horse-drawn equipment, vintage tractors, historical displays and contemporary machinery.
A New Ambassador for Ontario Agriculture
One of the week's most celebrated moments came with the crowning of Carmen Ward of Grey Normanby as the 2026-2027 Ontario Queen of the Furrow.
The 21-year-old Owen Sound resident received the honour during ceremonies on September 25. Ward is a licensed funeral director and hopes to become a celebrant while pursuing her dream of operating her own farm in Grey County.
As Ontario Queen of the Furrow, she will spend the coming year promoting agriculture, representing the province's plowing community and helping bridge the gap between rural and urban audiences.
For many attendees, the role represents an important tradition that encourages young leaders to become ambassadors for farming and rural life.
Youth Competitors Demonstrate a Bright Future
While experienced competitors attracted much attention in the championship classes, younger participants also delivered impressive performances throughout the week.
The Ontario Junior Champion title was captured by Dugald McIntosh of Seaforth, while Brendan Hickey of Auburn earned reserve champion honours. Both competitors secured positions as Ontario representatives for the 2027 Canadian Plowing Championships.
Several youth and junior divisions featured skilled tractor operators displaying precision and consistency beyond their years. These classes are often among the most inspiring parts of the event because they demonstrate that agricultural traditions continue to resonate with younger generations.
For rural communities facing concerns about succession and the future of farming, the strong participation of youth competitors provided an encouraging sign.
Celebrating Skills Passed Through Generations
Plowing competitions remained the focal point of the event, rewarding the technical expertise and dedication required to create uniform, precise furrows.
Competitors from Ontario, across Canada and internationally participated in the championship classes. In conventional tractor competition, Gene Gruber of Richmond, Minnesota, claimed both the Ontario Championship title and the overall IPM Champion Tractor Award. Brian Davenport of Owen Sound finished as reserve champion in both categories.
In the reversible tractor competition, Tom Evans of Tiverton earned championship honours, while Tor Broeckx of Belgium secured reserve champion status.
The international participation reflected the respect the IPM continues to command within the global plowing community.
Honouring Farming Heritage
For many visitors, some of the most memorable moments came from the horse-drawn and antique tractor classes.
These competitions preserve skills and equipment that played a critical role in building Ontario agriculture. Horse-plowing competitors demonstrated techniques that would have been familiar to earlier generations of farmers, while antique tractor classes showcased beautifully restored machinery that remains an important part of agricultural history.
Durk Devries of Shallow Lake was named IPM Champion Horse Plow Person, while Richard Pepper of Chesley earned the IPM Champion Antique Tractor Award.
The heritage classes continue to attract strong interest because they remind audiences how far agriculture has advanced while honouring the generations who laid the foundation for today's farms.
Looking Ahead
As the final awards were presented and machinery left the grounds, attention began shifting toward next year's event.
The 2027 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo is scheduled for September 21 to 25 in Lambton County, where another rural community will have the opportunity to welcome visitors from across Canada and beyond.
For those who attended this year's gathering, the event served as a reminder that agriculture is more than crops and equipment. It is also about community, family traditions, mentorship and the people who continue to shape the future of rural Canada.