The Rural Voice, 2004-09, Page 357
city which are quite different from
each other," says Pearl. "They show
various stages of forestry and
recovery."
As is traditional, a church service
will be held prior to the official
opening of the IPM. It will be at the
Meaford arena on the evening of
September 21.
The Georgian Court Stage (main
stage) will feature a wide selection of
local or locally connected talent. "It
is a power -pack of dynamic
entertainers," adds Pearl.
The Georgian Corral will feature a
variety of outdoor animal exhibitions
throughout the week with a team
cattle -penning competition on
September 25.
There will be horse plowing to the
south of the tented city and antique
tractors to the north, along with the
antiquetractor and equipment
displays.
The plowing competition
occupies as much as 350 acres
with the horses using 50 to 75,
and the antique tractors taking 100 to
150. The rest goes to the modern
equipment.
Plowing Match
requires a huge tract of
land for tented city,
competitions, parking
and camping
As for the actual preparations,
Brian says several events were well
on their way to planning completion
by early August and the site had
begun to take shape. The hydro poles
went in August 5 and hay was
harvested that week.
Parking is a major concern for
such a huge event. A large number
of acres have been set aside for
parking as it is estimated that as
many as 25,000 vehicles could arrive
at the IPM each day. If organizers
have to deal with wet land, plans
have been put in place for external
parking.
The trailer park, greatly expanded
from the 100 Tots set out at the 1987
IPM on the same property, has 1,000
of the 1,600 sites already booked.
The campgrounds 17 years ago
covered 40 acres. The 2004 version
Come visit us at the
I I I.P.M. 2004
at Meaford, Sept. 22-26
OFA ENVIROFARM
r•ar-L-I-T
Showing best
management practices
in a miniature farm
PI
�a
rtmft�
Arx
Meaforc ON
September 22-26, 2004
www.ipm2004.ca
1-888-767-8654
+#F
ONTARIO'S MUTUAL
A INSURANCE COMPANIES
cagiL hy dro�
one
Canada
UP/
SEPTEMBER 2004 31