The Citizen, 2017-09-28, Page 1INSIDE
THIS WEEK:
IPM - Pg. 9
The five days we've all been
waiting for — in pictures
FALL FAIR - Pg. 17
Brussels Fall Fair marks
banner year at IPM
HISTORY - Pg. 19
Huron's Hendriks crowned
first-ever IPM Princess
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Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, September 28, 2017
IPM strives for greatness despite soggy start
A week to remember
While Mother Nature tried to throw cold water (literally) on
last week's International Plowing Match, nothing could
keep down the spirits of Huron County residents and the
1,700 volunteers who worked so hard to make the 100th
match a reality in Walton. After a rainy opening day on
Tuesday and a forced closure on Wednesday, the doors
were open for three glorious days at Jack Ryan's farm. The
Queen of the Furrow was crowned, history was made with the
crowning of the first-ever IPM Princess (Huron County's Brooklyn
Hendriks), plowing champions were awarded and volunteers were
honoured. Even Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his wife Sophie
and their family visited. The man in charge plowed, visited with
host Jack Ryan and his family, high-fived local students and spoke
to Queen of the Furrow contestants. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
One of the brightest jewels in the
crown of last week's International
Plowing Match (IPM) in Walton was
a visit from Justin and Sophie
Trudeau and their children on
Friday.
While the visit was late
developing — the announcement was
only made to the public the night
before — hundreds came out to see
Trudeau, who first tried his hand in
the plowing fields and then spoke to
those gathered around the main
stage for the Queen of the Furrow
competition speeches.
News broke around 7:30 p.m. on
Thursday night that the Trudeaus
would be in Walton for the IPM.
Their visit, however, would be brief,
as the Prime Minister was scheduled
to hold a bilateral meeting with
Ukranian President Petro
Poroshenko at 3 p.m. in Toronto.
IPM Chair Jacquie Bishop said
that she and the executive committee
had been writing letters and
attempting to draw Trudeau for the
IPM for years, but it wasn't until
Mrs. Nolan's Grade 1/2 class from
St. James Catholic School in
Seaforth wrote two letters to
Trudeau that he began to take notice.
The class was on hand on Friday
and was able to meet the Prime
Minister and have their picture taken
with his family. Trudeau thanked
them for their letters and their
enthusiasm about the match.
Trudeau also spent some time on a
red Massey -Ferguson tractor that
belonged to John Ryan, grandson of
host farmer Jack Ryan. Trudeau met
with the Ryans that morning and
then his family made their way to
the plowing fields by way of a
people -mover with the Ryans,
Bishop and other VIP guests.
John, with a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity to meet the Prime
Minister and let him use his plow
Continued on page 15
Nearly 700 people attend IPM gala in Brussels
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
The Brussels, Morris and Grey
Community Centre played host to
nearly 700 guests on Friday night
with the Celebration of Excellence
banquet — the culmination of days of
hard work connected to the
International Plowing Match (IPM)
in Walton.
That night dozens of plowing
competition awards were handed out
and Kailey Donaldson of Halton
County was named the 2017/2018
Queen of the Furrow, taking over for
outgoing Queen Anita
Rastapkevicius, and triumphing over
her 24 fellow competitors.
Donaldson impressed over the
course of the week. Whether it was
during contestant outings to the
Walton Challenge Course or The
Old Mill, a major sponsor of the
event, or during the plowing or main
stage speech competitions, the girls
were busy in the community all
week.
Donaldson, alongside Josie Linton
of Durham County, Andrea Chesney
of Oxford Blenheim, Caleigh Van
Kampen of Peel Dufferin and Olivia
Bolender of York, were named the
top five contestants in the
competition that night. All five were
then asked to provide their thoughts
on the role of women in agriculture
at the first IPM in 1913 and how it
has evolved over the next 99
matches.
She also drew a round of applause
after her impromptu speech at the
Celebration of Excellence gala on
Friday night at the Brussels, Morris
and Grey Community Centre.
"We're the ones driving the
tractor, we're the ones working the
fields and now we're the ones
chairing the IPM," Donaldson said
to roaring applause with her nod to
Jacquie Bishop, the first-ever female
chair in IPM history.
Donaldson was crowned
2017/2018 Queen of the Furrow by
Rastapkevicius, who also took to the
podium with a heartfelt thank you
and farewell address after her year
with the crown and sash.
Van Kampen was the
competition's first runner-up,
followed by Chesney who was the
second runner-up. Billie Diemert of
Grey Normanby was named Miss
Friendship.
Van Kampen was the winner of the
Queen of the Furrow plowing
competition, followed by Bolender,
Linton, Shannon Little of Perth and
Michaela Lievre of Oxford County
in fifth. All five received a $100
scholarship from the Ontario
Plowmen's Association.
Winthrop's Don Dodds was also
honoured that Friday night in
Brussels, as he had chosen to retire
after over four decades of judging
plowing competitions.
Dodds' daughter Lynne Godkin
and her brother Paul Dodds
presented their father with his
retirement gift. Godkin said that at
most jobs when someone retires
they're presented with a gold watch.
However, when a plowing judge
retires, he's entitled to a gold
clipboard.
Brandon McGavin was the winner
of one of the IPM's special awards
this year: the Brussels Agricultural
Society Special Award, which is
presented to the plow person with
the highest aggregate score from the
Brussels Fall Fair area.
Plowing results are as follows:
• Class 1 Group 1— Horses, Jointer
Plow (Walking): Brad Linton of
Roseneath, champion; Terry Linton
of Roseneath, reserve.
• Class 1 Group 2 — Horses, Jointer
Continued on page 12