The Ottawa-Carleton Plowmen’s Association (OCPA) held its annual Plowing Match on August 23-24, at Ferme Chrétien on Dunning Road in Sarsfield.
The event kicked off on Friday with a brief opening ceremony, followed by a VIP Plowing Competition. Sixteen local VIPs participated in the competition, with Caroline Etter, President of the Sarsfield Community Association, taking first place. Brian Coburn, former MPP for Carleton-Gloucester, secured second place, while Doug Thompson, former Ottawa Councillor, came in third.
“Our plowing match was a resounding success again this year,” said Don Good, OCPA President. “Our thanks are extended to our hosts, Ferme Chrétien, owned by Natalie Chrétien, Christian Baumgartner, William Baumgartner, and Marguerite Hébert, as well as to our volunteers, plowers, exhibitors, and sponsors.”
The main competition featured 23 plowers using modern and vintage tractors, as well as horses, as they competed for titles in the OCPA Plowing Match. The competition was judged by Allen Carruthers from Grafton, with Lawrence Payne of Manotick and Ray St. Denis of Navan serving as stewards.
An awards celebration followed the day’s events. Allen Hills of Ashton had a standout performance, placing top-of-class in the 2-Furrow Mounted Plow, open split required, 21 years and over; Best Plowed Land (Overall); Best Plowed Land Conventional; and in Classes 2-9 for Best Open Split and Best Crown. Hills also shared the CPC-16 Award with Chris Allen.
This award is presented to competitors with conventional and reversible plows who have accumulated enough points to compete at the International Plowing Match (IPM) with the potential eligibility to compete at the Canadian and World Plowing Championships.
Jean-Guy Thivierge of Hammond also had a strong showing, winning the Antique Tractor Class – open split required, Best Finish in Classes 2-9, and earning recognition as the Oldest Plow Person in the competition. In the antique tractor division, Jean-Marc Dessaint of Sarsfield took home the prize for the Antique Tractor Class – 1946-1960 (trail plows) and was named Best Antique Plow Person. Denis Bourbonnais of Gatineau claimed top honors in the Antique Mounted Plow Class.
The horse division saw Samuel Bourgon of Maxville dominate, winning the Jointer Plow Amateur and Champion Horse Plow Person classes. Glenn Conway of Chute-à-Blondeau also earned recognition by winning the Sulky Plow Class.
Other notable winners included Stephen Manley of Berwick in the 3-Furrow Plow (21 years and older) – open split required; Nicole Calande of Alfred, who was named Best Female Plow Person; and Luc Roy from St. Eugène, who received the award for Oldest Plowing Tractor with his 1940 Massey Harris – 101 Super.
All plowers must compete at local matches to be eligible to advance to the 2024 International Plowing Match (IPM) and Rural Expo, scheduled for September 19-23 in Lindsay.
Preparations are also underway for IPM 2025, which will be held in the Niagara Region at Grassie.
