The Citizen, 2017-08-03, Page 9THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 2017. PAGE 9.
Countdown to TM
Local entertainers a focus for entertainment committee
Because they're farmers
International Plowing Match (IPM) Entertainment Committee Co-ordinator Sherry McCall has,
with her committee, organized all the local musical acts for the upcoming plowing match.
Before that, however, she tackled a job that no one knew existed — penning the theme song
for the IPM. After working with her husband on the tune, inspiration struck one night at 2 a.m.
and the final result was four -verse song that has since been turned into a music video. The
song is performed by, from left, Jack Storey, Amanda McClure and Isaiah Sills. (Photo submitted)
Continued from page 8
Harps and numerous local choirs.
"There are also lots of other acts
from further afield," McCall said.
While there are bigger acts which
have been organized through the
IPM committee and Huron County
representatives, McCall said a real
focus has been having local talent on
the stages.
"We want to fit in as many local
musicians, singers and performers as
possible," she said.
Huron County has answered that
call, McCall said, and,
unsurprisingly, done so with gusto.
"Everyone is so willing here to
help all the time," she said. "They
volunteer their services and give of
their time."
While many of the IPM sub-
committees have been working for
the past several years, since the IPM
was announced, McCall said the
entertainment committee couldn't
really start lining up acts until the
last several months.
"We were approached within the
last four years, and just about two
years ago, started meeting
regularly," McCall said. "Planning
has kind of been on hold until we got
the okay for scheduling people
recently."
The committee has been planning
the event for the past several weeks,
A welcome presence
People throughout Huron County may have noticed some additions to the landscape with
straw -bale statues like the one above, in Blyth, popping up recently. The friendly fellows are
being placed to direct visitors to the International Plowing Match. (Dennyscoftphoto)
trying to finalize guests and prepare
a schedule.
"It's been very intense and we're
really getting to the point that the
schedule is taking shape," she said.
As for her own involvement in the
events, she traces it back to being
part of the entertainment at a
fundraiser for the 1966 IPM.
"My mother was a local dance
teacher so I was in the chorus line at
the Grand Ole Opry entertainment
evening that was hosted in Seaforth,"
she said, showing a poster from the
event during an interview with The
Citizen.
McCall added that she appeared
daily at the CKNX Barn Dance
Show as part of the Storey Sisters
performance during the 1966 IPM.
With the exception of the 1946
Victory Match, McCall has been
involved in every Huron County
IPM.
Her own experience, and the
nature of the event, made her want to
be a part of it.
"It's a great community event and
brings people together," she said.
She said that when Bishop asked
her to be a part of the event, she
couldn't say no. Part of that was due
to her own experience with the event
and her fondness for it and
part of that was due to her
proximity to Walton and the
McGavin family.
"You can't think of the McGavins
without thinking of plowing," she
said. "They're such a big part of that
in Huron County and when Jacquie
and Brian [McGavin] asked me, I
was quick to say yes."
Community and family are big
parts of the IPM, McCall said, and
for 2017 her family has pulled out all
the stops to be a part of it.
She said her husband Murray has
been very supportive of the planning
of the event. Her daughter and son-
in-law will also be part of the IPM.
Carali McCall, Sherry and
Murray's daughter, who lives in the
United Kingdom, will be coming
home to perform a live creation of a
circle drawing.
A former Walton and Seaforth
Public School student and graduate
of Seaforth District High School,
Carali studied art at the MFA Slade
School of Arts in London, UK and
received her PhD from Central Saint
Martens, part of the University of
Arts London, also in the United
Kingdom.
Her circle drawing recently won
Carali the Jerwood Drawing Prize
which will see one of her pieces tour
different galleries throughout
England for one year.
Daniel Hughes, Sherry and
Murray's son-in-law, is a soldier,
pilot and educator from London,
England. He will speak in the
education tent at the IPM on Sept.
21. In May, 2013, Hughes climbed
Mount Everest and recorded the
highest live video from the summit
of the mountain.
The McCalls' daughter Marcy and
her family are also involved in the
event. They have contributed to the
Education Committee to help fund
its programs.
The McCall family also
contributed to the music video for
"Because We're Farmers" which was
produced by FauxPop media in
Goderich.
For more information on
the entertainment schedule or
to check out the IPM 2017 song,
watch the IPM website at
www.plowingmatch.org
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