Join the OWA at the International Plowing Match this year in Kemptville. The OWA will have a booth that we design and decorate and will be there for all 4 days to promote our organization and share in the fun of the event.
There will also be several tours associated with the Plowing Match. For example, The FCGA has offered OWA to tour their local Butternut greenhouse facility and learn about Butternuts. Closer to the date will let registrants know of the specific tours times.
About the International Plowing Match (https://www.plowingmatch.org/ipm2022/)
In short, the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM) is a five-day celebration of agriculture and rural living. There are plowing competitions, a range of activities for people of all ages, numerous opportunities to learn about agriculture, near-constant live entertainment in multiple Match venues, hundreds of vendors and exhibitors (large and small equipment, lifestyle items and much more), a wide variety of food … the list goes on.
It’s the largest event of its kind in North America. With so much to see and do, plan to spend more than one day!
Hosting the IPM – heading into its 103rd year – is a collaborative effort of the Ontario Plowmen’s Association and a local committee. It’s held in a different community each year, highlighting the many great things the area has to offer and attracting 80,000+ people from across Ontario, throughout Canada, the United States and beyond.
Tourism industry figures put the economic impact of the IPM at about $25 million annually (not including the long-term benefits this kind of exposure provides a community). It spurs tourism in the surrounding area for years to come.
More than that, profits generated by the IPM are donated to groups and organizations in the host community.
It’s such an important event, the Provincial Legislature traditionally shuts down so MPPs can attend Opening Day.
Activities and entertainment offerings are a little different each year, as the local committee puts its own stamp on the IPM, showcasing important local contributions to agriculture and the rural lifestyle. The 2022 event will be held in Kemptville (North Grenville) from September 20 to 24. A team of dedicated local volunteers, alongside the OPA, is hard at work planning and organizing to make this an exceptional IPM.
An event of this scale would be impossible to put on without hundreds of volunteers and generous support from the business community. We have several sponsors who come with us as we move around the province – such as presenting partners BMO Bank of Montreal, Hydro One and Ontario Mutual Insurance Association – in addition to support at the local level.
