The Rural Voice, 2004-09, Page 34Brian and Pearl Bumstead, who accepted the co-chair
positions for the 2004 IPM committee call it "a
tremendous growth experience".
Having stood beside him for 29 years, Pearl
Bumstead was not about to change that when her
husband Brian agreed to chair the organizing
committee for the 2004 International Plowing Match and
Rural Expo set for September 22 to 26 near Meaford in
Grey County.
"I took the lead in getting us involved in this," admits
Brian, "but I was not taking it on by myself. The
Plowmen's Association suggested a co-chair, as had been
done in the past, and I asked Pearl."
"It has been a tremendous growth experience, and in our
personal lives as well," says his wife.
In the three years since the Bumsteads first accepted the
task of organizing the huge event, both have changed jobs,
Brian more than once,•and they began renovations on their
home.
When it all began in 2001, Brian says the.match seemed
so far away and he questioned whether they were going to
be able to do it.
"It is amazing how things have come together. We have
helped build the machine and now we only have to add a
little oil once in a while."
This is a tribute to the approximately 500 volunteers
30 THE RURAL VOICE
A family affair
Brian and Pearl Bumstead make a
unique co-chair team co-ordinating
500 volunteers
for Greg's 2004 IPM committee
Story and photos by Janice Becker
who make up the 40 -plus sub -committees looking after
every detail of the show.
"People who no longer live in Grey, people from across
the province and county have jumped in with both feet,
wanting to help. They are great people who are involved.
They are diligent and hard working and they have set -high
standards. It is a pride thing," says Brian.
And that pride and enthusiasm for the expo is evident in
conversation with the couple.
In an effort to make this version of the IPM unique
while promoting Grey County, the committee developed
first-time initiatives and expanded on others relatively new
to the show.
A coup for the 2004 IPM committee was in securing
Lieutenant Governor James Bartleman as a guest for the
opening ceremonies.
"It is rare to get the Lieutenant Governor to attend,"
says Brian.
A first for the IPM is the planned apple orchard tour,
promoting the importance of the crop to the region.
"Grey County is the hub of the apple industry," says
Pearl, "and we have a young orchard adjacent to the IPM
site so it was convenient to set up the tours."
Located next to the education division at the plowing
match, it will allow for an easy tie-in to the apple industry
as well.
The educational component is a vital part of the plowing
match, says Brian. "There are already over 6,000 school
children registered to attend."
A logo, mortarboard -wearing Mac the apple, has been
created to indicate all the education sites at the IPM so that
teachers and children can more easily locate the displays.
In keeping with Meaford's reputation for scarecrow
invasions, the committee has come up with a wonderful
idea to liven up the park's surroundings as an element of
the landscaping. Created by Ed Raco, chair of the
landscaping committee, 500 scarecrows will be available to
exhibitors to display at their booths.
"Ed has done a phenomenal job with the landscaping,"
says Pearl.
Brian is very excited about the response to the IPM
souvenir and information store located in downtown
Meaford, across from the town's Big Apple information
booth.
"The response has been excellent," he says.
The committee was also intrigued by the woodlot tours
hosted by the Ottawa group in 2001.
"We have two woodlots at the north end of the tented