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From Lambton County Archives’ Facebook page: With the announcement earlier this year that the International Plowing Match will return to Lambton County in 2027, this month’s #StoriesFromTheVault takes a look back at the past matches hosted by the county, beginning with the first, held in October 1923. In late winter 1923, a delegation from Lambton County (including Harry Gilroy of Alvinston, Major MacAdams of the Sarnia Board of Trade, and W.P. Macdonald, Agricultural Representative at Petrolia) attended a Board of Directors meeting of the Ontario Plowmen’s Association. There, they proposed hosting that year’s provincial plowing match in Lambton County, emphasizing the region’s close ties with neighbouring Michigan as an opportunity to make the event truly international. Their bid was successful, and Lambton was selected as the host of the 1923 International Plowing Match. The match was held from October 17 to 19 on the farm of William Hillier, located on Lot 17, Concession 6 in Sarnia Township, on land where Lambton Mall stands today. The event featured two major components: the plowing competitions and a large tent city filled with exhibitions. While admission was free, automobile drivers were charged 25 cents for parking. The tent city featured more than 60 exhibits, with manufacturers from across the region showcasing the latest in agricultural technology. Lambton County had its own “Made in Lambton” exhibition space, highlighting the county’s diverse manufacturing and agricultural output. Exhibits included stoves from the Doherty Manufacturing Company, motor oils and greases from Imperial Oil Limited, model homes by Thomas Grace of Sarnia, and cheese samples from the Sarnia City Dairy. The main attraction, of course, was the plowing itself. Local newspapers reported that “the recent rains have placed the sod in ideal condition for the best plowing.” The 1923 match occurred during a time of transition in agriculture, with traditional walking plows gradually giving way to gasoline-powered tractors. One of the most talked-about events was the Veteran Competition, particularly the performance of Mr. Parks of Oil Springs. While most competitors in his class relied on drivers, Mr. Parks drew attention for steering his horses by voice command and guiding his plow by hand. Overall, the match was considered a great success. An estimated 35,000 people attended, and 191 contestants took part—30 more than the previous record. Four plowmen from Michigan participated, fulfilling the committee’s promise of hosting a “truly international” event. Source:Lambton County Archives Facebook Post More clippings in our 1923 Lambton IPM Archives

This year's $2,000 IPM 91 scholarship winners, Stacey Marsh, left, Tyler McGrail, and Julie Drury, received their awards Saturday at the Brigden Fair. (Tyler Kula/ The Observer) “There is a continuity between the organizers of the two, a mentorship if you’d like,” said Bryan Boyle, one of the volunteer who helped stage the 1991 provincial plowing match championships in Petrolia. The legacy of the 1991 event continued in Brigden Saturday, amid the the Brigden Fair’s 175th anniversary, when three county 19-year-olds were selected for $2,000 scholarships, based on their community involvement, academic records and financial needs. This year’s recipients are: Julie Drury, of Petrolia, who’s studying critical criminology at Brock University and planning to become a family lawyer focused on advocacy for children. Stacey Marsh, of Forest, a linguistic anthropology student at Western University planning a career as an audiologist; Tyler McGrail, of Plympton-Wyoming, an aspiring environmental lawyer, currently in justice and legal studies at the University of Guelph. All are second-year post-secondary students. The IPM 91 scholarships started with a $125,000 investment from organizers, earned from gate receipts, exhibit rental spaces and donations from the Petrolia event. IPM 91 volunteer and scholarship trustee Bryan Boyle. (Tyler Kula/ The Observer) About $170,000 has been awarded since, Boyle said. “For many years of high interest, we just allocated the interest,” with some support from the Lambton Plowmen’s Association, he said. “It’s only recently we’ve even started to use any of the equity.” “We haven’t come near close to depleting” the investment, he said. “But knowing the demand and how the costs have increased for the students and the number interested – we just are able to pick the top three – there’s always a possibility.” Organizers never specify the number of applicants, but “there was, let’s say, a substantial number who applied.” he said. The spirit of the IPM 91 scholarship included keeping “the presence and the focus on that past, with the goal of someday bringing (the IPM) back.,” he said. “So I guess you could say in a small way we’ve contributed to that coming back, the idea returning to Lambton.” ~Tyler Kula~ Sarnia Observer

The 2019 Lambton International Plowing Match 91 Trust Fund scholarship recipients named that year at the Brigden Fair are shown in this file photo along with fund trustees. From left, the late Bill Bilton, fund trustee, recipient Jessica Kennedy, recipient Clayton Shaw and trustee Bryan Boyle. Scholarship recipient Megan McGrail wasn't able to attend. (File photo/The Observer) A Lambton County scholarship created with local proceeds from the 1991 International Plowing Match is helping keep the spirit of community involvement alive and well. While the scholarship created 34 years ago by local organizers of the farm event held near Petrolia takes into account marks and financial need, volunteering and community involvement are half of the scoring criteria trustees use to select three annual recipients of the $2,000 awards. “The ideal applicant is very involved in their community,” said Bryan Boyle, the sole remaining original trustee for the scholarship fund that began operating a year after the 1991 plowing match was held in Enniskillen Township. “Historically, they’ve also been strong academically, almost without exception . . . but high marks will not do it on its own,” he said. Applicants able to demonstrate a variety of community involvement, volunteering and charity work tend to carry the day, Boyle said. Sept. 15 is the deadline to apply for the scholarship this year. Information is available by contacting Boyle by email at bryan@bryanboyle.ca. “Typically, we’d have 10 good ones to pick from,” he said. The scholarships are available for students from Lambton County entering their second year of college, university or other post-secondary training. About $172,000 has been awarded to 119 recipients since the scholarships began in 1992. “Any time you can keep something going like that, it says something good,” Boyle said. Early recipients of the scholarship are now entering middle age and children of past recipients are old enough to apply, he said. “There were identified as leading members of their community then and they’ve sure lived up to it,” Boyle said about past recipients. They include farmers, engineers, veterinarians, doctors, scientists, and other occupations, Boyle said. “We never limited it to agriculture only,” he said. Individual scholarships began at $1,000 but several years ago the fund’s trustees increased the amount to $2,000. Currently, the fund has four trustees who include Barbara McNeil, daughter of Leonard McNeil, who was chairperson of the local plowing match committee in 1991. Boyle said he and Leonard McNeil promoted the idea of establishing a scholarship with about $125,000 in profit from the 1991 event that came to the local volunteers. That was instead of the tradition of awarding honorariums to some volunteers and donating the rest to charity, Boyles said. “Our thought was what better way to keep a lasting legacy that to give it each year to deserving young people,” he said. Three decades later, the scholarship fund has about $100,000 invested to generate income for the annual awards. “We have no signs of running out of money, at this rate,” Boyle said. “We hope it will continue on.” The decision made following the 1991 match to create the scholarship fund meant its local committee members “were truly volunteers,” although some of the profits were used for a large dinner and celebration for several hundred local residents involved in hosting the event, he said. This year’s scholarship recipients are expected to be announced in October at the Brigden Fair. ~Paul Morden~ Sarnia Observer

For Immediate Release October 27, 2025 – Brigden Ontario At the recent Brigden Fair, three post-secondary students from Lambton County were each awarded $2,000 scholarships from proceeds of the 1991 International Plowing Match held in Lambton County. Rewarded for their community involvement and scholastic ability were (left to right) Stacey Marsh from Forest, Tyler McGrail from Plympton-Wyoming, and Julia Drury from Petrolia. Pictured with the recipients are Trustees Dennis Bryson (far left), Barb McNeil and Bryan Boyle (far right). The IPM 91 Trustees were impressed with the quality of all the applications submitted. -30- Background: The legacy of Lambton County’s highly successful 1991 International Plowing Match (IPM) is continuing to help deserving students in Lambton County continue their post-secondary studies. To be eligible for the scholarship applicants must have completed one-year of post-secondary training or be enrolled in their second year of any college or university. The annual deadline to apply is September 15th. Contact: Bryan Boyle

1991 IPM Crowd From Lambton County Archives’ Facebook page: Continuing our series on the International Plowing Matches held in Lambton County, this week’s #StoriesfromtheVault features the most recent event hosted in the region, from September 17 to 21, 1991. Many will remember the excitement leading up to the 1991 International Plowing Match or may even have vivid memories of attending it. That year, the event was held in Enniskillen Township on roughly 1,000 acres of land spread across 15 farms near Marthaville. As in years past, a massive tent city welcomed over 600 exhibitors showcasing the latest in agricultural equipment and technology. Nearby fields were the site of horse and plowing competitions where farmers of all ages demonstrated their skills. Among the honoured guests were Walter Mater and Archie Campbell, both of whom had competed in Lambton’s first match in 1923. Students played a larger role than ever before. Tim Brandon, an elementary student from Oil Springs, submitted the winning name for the event’s mascot—a groundhog dubbed Enniskillen Eddie. Rachelle Cronk, a student at LCCVI, designed the official logo featured on all event materials. Throughout the week, school groups from across Lambton County visited to learn about farming, technology, and rural life. The 1991 match took place during a time of economic hardship for many farmers. A steep drop in crop prices, coupled with a severe drought, meant that many would struggle to break even. The changing landscape of agriculture was evident among the exhibitors, with co-operatives promoting equipment sharing and manufacturers highlighting energy-efficient and sustainable innovations. The match also offered an important platform for farmers to speak with politicians about their concerns, helping to lift spirits and foster solidarity in Lambton’s rural communities. For the first time in Lambton County, adult visitors were charged admission ($8 per person). The match drew about 90,000 attendees (depending on the publication), including 70,000 paid adult visitors—short of the 100,000 goal, but still enough to generate a $100,000 profit. Organizers chose to create a lasting legacy with the proceeds, establishing a trust fund to award scholarships to Lambton County students entering their second year of post-secondary education. Lambton County is proud to once again host the International Plowing Match—this time at the Brigden Fair Grounds in 2027. See you at the match! Source: Lambton County Archives Facebook Post More photos in our 1991 Lambton IPM Archives: 1991 Clippings: 1991 Special Editions: 1991 Artifacts: 1991 IPM Billboard at Lambton Heritage Museum

The Lambton County Plowmen’s Association would like to thank Autumn Bressette for representing us at the 2025 International Plowing Match held last week in Grassie in the Ontario Queen of the Furrow competition. A thanks to Patrick S. who coached for the plowing portion of the competition. Autumn, we wish you all the best in your future endeavours.

From Lambton County Archives’ Facebook page: Continuing from our last #StoriesfromtheVault, this week we’re highlighting the 1973 International Plowing Match, held from September 25 to 29. The event took place on more than 600 acres of farmland owned by J.D. McGugan, the Reeve of Brooke Township, and neighbouring farmers north of Alvinston. Lambton County was hosting the match exactly 50 years after it had first welcomed the event, and organizers marked the occasion by reuniting 13 men who had competed in that original 1923 match. Much had changed in the intervening decades. With more Canadians now living in cities than on farms, the 1973 event aimed to appeal to both rural and urban audiences. Unlike the more modest affair of 1923, the 1973 Plowing Match had a festive, carnival-like atmosphere. The opening parade drew a crowd of up to 30,000 spectators and included musical performances by the Marching Angels of Sarnia, a carved wagon pulled by eight nearly-identical Belgian horses—and even an elephant! A 100-acre tent city hosted more than 330 exhibits showcasing both farm equipment and household goods. A special tent organized by the Lambton County Women’s Program Committee featured activities geared toward women, including cake decorating, painting, weaving, and a fashion show. The Queen of the Furrow competition had also become a major feature of the match. Of course, the heart of the event remained the plowing competitions. Junior farmers offered free “taxi rides” on tractor-pulled flatbeds to shuttle visitors between the tent city and the plowing grounds. Over the course of four days, more than 100 acres were plowed by over 700 competitors across 38 events. For the first time, women competed alongside men—another sign of how the match had evolved. In the end, the 1973 International Plowing Match was a resounding success, drawing a record-breaking crowd of 150,000 people to Lambton County. Source:Lambton County Archives Facebook Post 1973 International Plowing Match map From Lambton County History Rocks: Governor General Roland Michener trying his hand at plowing at the 1973 IPM, pc: Roy & David McLean Source: Lambton County History Rocks Facebook post More from our 1973 Lambton IPM Archives: 1973 Clippings: 1973 Booklet: 1973 Winners:

Tractor plowing through field. (Photo courtesy www.plowingmatch.org) A tradition in Lambton County that's been going on for more than a century returns this weekend. The Lambton County Plowing Match will be held on Saturday, August 30 at the Farm of Keith Hart at 5586 London Line in Plympton-Wyoming. Lambton County Plowmen's Association Chair Dennis Bryson said the free event has something for everyone. "They can see for themselves the actual plowing that takes place," he said. "We have a fun class for the municipal people in the afternoon and we also have a Queen of the furrow competition, there will be horse wagon rides for a period of time and then we'll go back to the tractor and wagon." There will also be antique machinery and the Petrolia Lions Club will be selling food. Bryson said the plowing match is in its 103rd year. "Our first match that we had as an international plow match was 1923 but the first match for Lambton was 1920 when the organization started and so we've changed a little bit but we're still somewhat the old school match," he said. For people who are interested in history, there will be some antique displays. Bryson said plowing has skill and is an art form. "People today that farm use various hydraulic attachments to their plow, now they've even gone so far they make plastic moldboards, so they can fit the moldboard to the land condition, it's just amazing what you can see," he said. The Lambton County Plowing Match will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Anyone wishing to compete is asked to register at 9 a.m. ~Lindsay Newman~ Blackburn News

On behalf of the Lambton Plowmen’s Association, I welcome all to join us for our annual branch plowing match, tomorrow, Saturday August 30. Competitors will take to the fields to see who can plow the best plot starting at 10am and will be finishing up by 2:30. Municipal dignitaries and the Queen of the Furrow competition will also be taking place. The annual event is always a great day filled with friends, fellowship and some friendly competition. I hope you will join us at 5586 London Line Wyoming (between Wanstead and Stewardson Roads on the north side of London Line) ~Ken D, Chairman Lambton County Plowmen’s Association~ As the Lambton County Queen of the Furrow, I'd like to warmly welcome all contestants, dignitaries, spectators and anyone else who may wish to enjoy the day with us at the 2025 Lambton County Plowing Match. This year's event promises to be as great as years previous. Please take the time to connect to our rural roots. ~Autumn B., Lambton County Queen Of The Furrow~

Keith Hart with his family and the Queen of the Furrow, Autumn Bressette. Keith Hart says he’s honoured to be hosting Lambton County’s Plowing Match again this year on his London Line farm. Hart, seen here with his family and the Queen of the Furrow, Autumn Bressette, was thrilled last year to host the event for the first time, so he stepped up again for the match slated for next Saturday. Dennis Bryson of the Lambton County Plowmen’s Association says the practice has been to host the event in the same township two years in a row. Hart was ready to host again, so the association took him up on the offer. Bryson is hopeful this years plowing match will draw more competitors who may have heard Lambton will be hosting the International Plowing Match in Brigden in 2027. Petrolia Independent

Competitors, families, and local officials will gather in Plympton-Wyoming for a day rooted in Lambton’s farming community. The 2025 Lambton County Plowing Match will take place Saturday, August 30, at the farm of Keith and Alma Hart, located at 5586 Lambton Line in Plympton-Wyoming. The event, organized by the Lambton County Plowmen’s Association, has drawn plowing competitors for over a century. This year’s match will feature approximately 40 participants, with competitors as young as 10 taking part in various classes. Categories range from traditional horse-drawn plows to antique and modern tractors. The competition begins at 10 a.m. and is expected to wrap up by 2 or 2:30 p.m. A special “fun class” in the afternoon invites municipal politicians and local representatives to join the action. The event is free and open to the public, with on-site parking available. Visitors can enjoy wagon rides around the competition field and view displays of antique equipment. The Petrolia Lions Club will also be on site, operating a food booth throughout the day. Following the competition, a banquet will be held at the Wyoming Fair Building. Banquet tickets must be reserved in advance by emailing the Lambton County Plowmen’s Association by August 14. Tickets can be picked up and paid for on the day of the event. The Lambton County Plowmen’s Association is a member of the Ontario Plowmen’s Association. Additional information and updates can be found on the association’s website at www.lambtonplowmens.ca. Sarnia Journal Staff

Pictured are Dennis Bryson (IPM Scholarship Committee Member), Recipients Laura Vandendool, Olivia McKinlay and Kiera Maw and Barb McNeil (IPM Scholarship Committee Member) For Immediate Release October 16, 2024 – Brigden Ontario Following the 1991 International Plowing Match that was held in Lambton County, a scholarship fund was set up with the proceeds of the event. At the recent Brigden Fair the 2024 recipients were presented with their scholarships. We congratulate these young people and wish them all the best in their future studies. -30- Background: The legacy of Lambton County’s highly successful 1991 International Plowing Match (IPM) is continuing to help deserving students in Lambton County continue their post-secondary studies. To be eligible for the scholarship applicants must have completed one-year of post-secondary training or be enrolled in their second year of any college or university. The annual deadline to apply is September 15th. Contact: Bryan Boyle