The Rural Voice, 1978-09, Page 7Where the money goes: not for profit
While organizers always hope an International Plowing Match
will make a profit, the match isn't a moneymaking venture.
If that seems a contradiction in terms, it's because both the
Huron Plowmen's Association and the Ontario Plowmen's
Association are non-profit organizations.
Also, the provincial and local organizations have different
financial responsibilities in staging a match.
The Ontario Plowmen's Association receive the revenue from
selling the space to exhibitors during the match.
The provincial organization however, has to guarantee the
county organization the direct expenses of staging a match.
The county group received its revenues from the gate receipts
coliected during the actual match itself, which means the local
organization has a far greater potential for bringing in revenue
than the parent body.
Bad Weather
The problem arises when bad weather or other disasters result
in a poor turnout.
That's when gate receipts drop, and the Ontario Plowmen's
Association has to ball out the county organization.
Last year, when the Match in Frontenac County was rained
out, the provincial organization turned over $115,000 from its
reserve fund to the county organization to cover expenses of
staging the rain -plagued match.
The budget for the International Plowing Match in Huron
County this year has been set at $160,000, and the provincial
organization guarantees direct expenses up to that figure.
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Some of the expenses incurred in staging the match arc
$30,000 for an advertising campaign. over $50,000 for installing
hydro on the site, $11,200 for installing telephone service. over
$10,000 to provide Johnny -on -the spots and $35.000 in prii-
money for plowmen.
If the 250,000 people expected at the match do turn up, and it
is a profitable year, the local Huron Cunty association is
responsible for covering all the expenses of staging the match
Then, if there are funds over and above the expenses. they pa}
members of their various committees mileage and per diem rates
for the meetings they have attended over the past several
months.
Use the money
Finally. if there are still funds remaining, as there were in the
case of the successful match held in Bruce County, the local
plowmen's association can use the money for projects in their
area.
In Frontenac County, since the match lost money, committee
members never did receive any renumeration for the long hours
they all spent on preparation.
This year, the Huron County Plowmen's Association are
praying the weather will co-operate.
But as Carol Armstrong, Chairman of the Ladies Program
Committee pointed out, nobody goes into a match thinking about
what you'll make.
"It's people working together and it brings the people of a
county together," she said.
You can't measure that in dollars and cents.
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THE RURAL VOICE/SEPTEMBER 1978 PG.7