The Rural Voice, 1979-11, Page 41Ontario's Queen of the Furrow Peggy Kniesz
Peggy Kniesz, 20, fairly bubbles over
with enthusiasm no matter what the topic
of conversation. And these days, Peggy
has good reason to be enthusiastic. She
was recently chosen Queen of the Furrow
at this year's International Plowing Match
(IPM) held at Chatham in Kent County.
Peggy, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Albert Kniesz of R.R.1, Brunner in Perth
County came close to holding the title once
before when she was chosen first runner-
up at the I.P.M. held in Kingston in
Frontenace County in 1977.
In order to enter the competition at the
I.P.M., the girls must have won the Queen
of the- Furrow title at their own county's
plowing match. Competition at the I.P.M.
level is the same as it is at the county level.
There are 200 marks given for a prepared
speech, 200 marks for an interview, 200
marks for poise and deportment, and 100
marks given for plowing. Plowing isn't
really a big factor in the competition,
Peggy points out, as the Ontario
Plowman's Association
(OPA) which sponsors the IPM, figures
more people will see the Queen of the
Furrow out speaking on the Association's
behalf, than will see the girl out plowing.
Peggy was chosen as Perth County's
Queen of the Furrow in October of 1978.
Only four tried for the title. Peggy went
around to different high schools in the
Perth County area trying to solicit interest
in the competition but without much
success.
"I guess they don't want to get involved.
It's such a great opportunity. I think,"
Peggy says, pointing out that it could help
The
Young Farmer
Perth girl is
Ontario
plowing queen
BY DEBBIE RANNEY
in getting a job because she felt the
plowing match experience would make a
person feel more at ease when applying for
a job.
A girl doesn't need anyone to sponsor
her at the county level but in order to
proceed to the I.P.M. the girl must be
sponsored by her county's Plowman's
Association.
In her position as Perth County Queen of
the Furrow, Peggy attended fairs, was in
parades, spoke at Women's Institute
meetings or wherever she was asked to go
on behalf of the Perth County Plowman's
Association. She went to the OPA con-
vention in Toronto in February along with
Queens of the Furrow from other counties,
where they watched the various counties
make a bid for the plowing match in the
coming years.
In her present position as the IPM's
Queen of the Furrow over the next year,
Peggy will be promoting the 1980 match to
be held in Oxford County.
She will be attending fairs all over
Ontario, other events including the OPA
convention in February, the Agricultural
Society convention in Toronto, a farm show
in Ottawa, county plowing matches, and
she will probably be attending the Western
Fair in London and the farm show in
Toronto. She will be working in a booth at
the Oxford County I.P.M. and at any
meetings coming up promoting the match
in Oxford, Peggy will be there.
"I'm at their disposal," she said.
Peggy described some of the events the
girls took part in at this year's plowing
match before the Queen of the Furrow was
chosen.
On the Wednesday of the week of the
plowing match, an informal evening was
planned and the girls had supper on the
Thames River. From there the 26 con-
testants went on a river cruise from the
Chatham Yacht Club to the new Civic
Centre. The girls were greeted by the
mayor and civic officials and a number of
people from Chatham.
A polka band played
and the girls were free to do as they wished,
either mingling with the people or to just
sit there listening to the music. They
attended a hockey game and presented the
trophy to the winning team. On Thursday,
the girls plowed in the afternoon and in the
evening a banquet was held. They then
attended the Plowman's Ball put on by the
Kent County Junior Farmers. On Friday,
interviews were held with the girls and
after dinner they gave their prepared
speeches and a final banquet was held at
the Chatham arena. There the top five girls
were announced and they gave impromptu
speeches.
The prepared speeches that the girls
gave were to be on a choice of three
topics --the International Plowing Match,
the International Year of the Child, or Any
Aspect of Agriculture. Peggy chose the
third topic describing a bit about farm life
and why she wanted to become a farmer.
For her impromptu speech, Peggy was
asked if she could go to any country other
than her own where would she go and why.
Peggy said she'd like to go to Alberta and
visit more of her own country because
although she was in Europe last year,
THE RURAL VOICE/NOVEMBER 1979. PG. 39