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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-06-22, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017. PAGE 11. Countdown to IPM • • Godkin reminisces on lessons learned as Queen Hang on tight Lynne Godkin (nee Dodds) rides on the hood of her new car after being named the 1984-85 International Plowing Match Queen of the Furrow. Godkin was one of the last IPM Queens to receive the car. Later winners would receive a vehicle leased for a year by the Ontario Plowmen's Association. Godkin would later recount to The Citizen the important lesson she learned that day about how to not slide off the hood of the vehicle. (Photo from `Furrows, Crowns and Gowns') Continued from page 10 first important lesson about being the Queen. "In the very first parade, I sat on the hood of the car with a blanket," she said. "I was slipping and sliding all over the hood and having trouble hanging on. That was the first thing I learned was how important it was to hang on to the windshield wipers to make sure you stay on the hood," she said with a laugh. The car took her all over the province, Godkin said, and most times, it was just her. "Those kinds of things, driving unchaperoned across the province and sitting on the hood of a car for a parade might not happen in this day and age," she said. Godkin's first event also provided important learning experiences, she said. "My first banquet was in a place called Bognor in Grey County," she said. "The first thing I learned thanks to it was to ask for at least three estimates as to how long it would take to get somewhere." Godkin pointed out that GPS systems weren't available when she was Queen and she had to rely on hand -printed directions she taped to her dashboard. "I made it to the event just in time, but I learned then and there to not trust one person when scheduling out trips," she said. The banquet at Bognor, which is nearly a two hour drive from Godkin's childhood home near Winthrop, held some more teachable moments. Godkin said she wasn't aware of the fact that she wasn't just at the event to bring greetings from the OPA, but she was also there as a guest speaker. "I wrote my speech on the paper table cloth," she said, laughing at the memory. "Then, they told me the speeches were going to be made in the upstairs of the hall we were in, so I had to rip the speech off the table cloth and bring it up stairs with me. That was a real baptism by fire." Godkin said she learned to always bring a speech with her just in case. After those early experiences, she said her time as Queen was a piece of cake, with the exception of attending the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto. "I was driving to Toronto to the Royal and I lost my bearings on the 401," she said. "I didn't know what to do, but then I saw a dirty car with a decal from a Huron automobile dealer. I figured they must be farmers and must be going to the Royal." Sure enough, the people in the dirty car were on their way to the Royal and, aside from a stern talking to when she got home, Godkin was no worse for wear. Aside from the Bognor banquet and the Toronto trip, Godkin said everything else went well. "I opened fairs, participated in parades, attended banquets and was the official representative for the OPA at farm shows," she said, adding that she would also lead a session at the convention the NORTH HURON COMMUNITY FOOD SHARE Invites you to their ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Wednesday, June 28 at 7 pm, At the North Huron Community Food Share Building, Located at 405-D Josephine St., Wingham AGENDA - recap of the last year's events - projects going forward - nominating and voting in new executive Contact us at: nhfoodshare.ca 519-357-2277 ext. 4 following years for the upcoming competition's Queen hopefuls. The experience opened a lot of doors for Godkin, who is now a teacher at Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton. "I worked for the OPA for a couple years afterwards and that was fun," she said. "Then I took time to go to school." Godkin said her year as Queen gave her a chance to travel across Ontario and make friends she still keeps in touch with to this day, especially at the annual International Plowing Match. Godkin has signed on with the 2017 IPM in Walton as Secretary for the executive. Previously, she was chair of the Queen of the Furrow competition at the 1999 International Plowing Match near Dashwood. Being Queen allowed her to have fun, but was also a growing experience because she learned how to handle interviews, how to think on her feet and how to handle a crowd. "Having those skills has proven invaluable," she said. Veldman was Queen for 2010 and said that, while the win seems like it was a long time ago, she remembers being passionate about the competition. "I was excited," she said. "I wanted to win. I was in Tecumseh, so a lot of family couldn't make it to support me but the Huron County plowing community is a strong group and all of them were there. It was nice to win in front of a bunch of hometown people." She said she looked forward to the coming year and enjoyed having the leased car the Ontario Plowmen's Association made available for her. While there was a quarter -decade between them, Veldman said her responsibilities were very similar to Godkin's. Both said they were responsible for going to local plowing matches, promoting the next International Plowing Match (both of which were in Elgin County) and wherever else the Plowmen's Association asked her to. As for Veldman's most memorable moment, she said there was a Continued on page 12 Book Your Ad Now for the 2017 IPM Issue Distributed to all homes in Huron County and western Perth County (through Canada Post) plus all campers staying at the Match RV site, with copies available for match goers to pick up - 35,000 copies in total Call The Citizen 519-523-4792 or contact sales representatives Brenda Nyveld & Heather Fraser e-mail: ads@northhuron.on.ca STILL RUNNING OUT TO FETCH THE PAPER? Having a subscription to The Citizen saves you money Newsstand price - $1.25/week Subscription price - 720/week • Save up to $2650 a year off newsstand price Yes - I want to save money. Enclosed is $36.00 for a 1 -year subscription Name Address Town Postal Code On-line subscriptions available too at www.northhuron.on.ca Mail cheque & coupon to: P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, Blyth, ON NOM 1H0 Brussels, ON NOG 1H0