The Rural Voice, 2002-09, Page 14,cptiG F4,,
Wheat, Barley,
Corn & Beans
Elevator
519-366-2749 519-366-2666
011M31
Les Young Jr.
519-366-2749
•
syngenta
Seed Dealer
David Young
519-366-2709
)1> Join us for
)) Owen
Sound's
150th Fall Fair
September 5, 6 & 7
Victoria Park
• GIANT MIDWAY
• 5TH ANNUAL QUILT SHOW
• TRUCK & TRACTOR PULL
• LIVESTOCK SHOWS • PET SHOW
• DEMO DERBY • ENTERTAINMENT
Highlights of the Fair
Thursday
Opens at 4 p.m.
Loonie Day on the Midway
Owen Sound 4-H Calf Club Show
Western Horse Show (Grandstand)
150th Anniversary Reception
(Entertainment Tent)
Friday
Owen Sound 4-H Regional Show
Keith Cain & Barbie Cordick
(Entertainment Tent)
Maine Anjou Show/Limousin Show
Great Lakes Truck & Tractor Pull
Saturday
Entertainment
New & Improved Children's Activities
Heavy Horse Pull - Grandstand
Hereford Mark of Excellence Show /
Angus Show
ATV Rodeo - Grandstand
Demolition Derby
Simmental Show / Charolais Boss
Show
Draw for Quilt
Supreme Champion Beef Animal
For information or
Registration
519-371-1720
.See Sun Times for complete schedule
10 THE RURAL VOICE
Jeffrey Carter
This year's IPM needs to be a winner
Jeffrey
Carter is a
freelance
journalist
based in
Dresden.
Ontario.
You've got to admire the people
who bring the International Plowing
Match & Farm Machinery Show to
Ontario.
It's a different team every year, of
course, but there's a common
denominator — their generosity of
spirit. They have nothing to gain
from their efforts, other than the
satisfaction of showing their
particular part of the province in its
best light.
That said, the challenge is
considerable, especially this year.
The opening of last year's match
happened just after September 11.
The crowds were poor. Lots of
money was spent, especially on
advertising. Financially, it was a
major blood bath.
That's put the annual event under
a dark cloud. This year's volunteers
are understandably nervous.
Nobody's making any bold
predictions about how many
paying patrons there'll be. They just
hope they'll be some money left over
when the dust clears — enough to put
a little something back into the
community.
The 2002 IPM — set for Glencoe
in Middlesex County — may prove to
be the turning point. If it's another
losing proposition, the annual event
may have to be scaled back. If it's a
winner, IPM supporters can move
forward with renewed hope.
Folks from the city need to come
out in droves. That will make the
difference between success and
failure, according to pretty much
everybody connected to the event.
There are just not enough farmers left
in the province to sustain the effort
all on their own.
The extra day should help, along
with the appearance Jimmy Rankin of
Rankin Family on that day — the
St;nday. It's a break from tradition
but change isn't always a bad thing.
The emphasis on education is also
important. As many as 15,000 school
children are to be bused to the site
and there's a fun learning experience
awaiting all the visitors, both young
and old.
There's much more of a positive
nature that could be said about this
year's match. The key element
though, the thing that binds, is the
willingness of the volunteers to pull
together.
Sure, that sounds a bit corny but
it's true. It's not that the conflicts,
the petty little gripes and grievances,
do not occur. They do. People
manage to set those aside, however,
and work for the higher cause. They
really do.
All that's needed now is a little
nudge from Mother Nature. That
means rain.
Yes, rain. It needs to rain on the
Monday to put a damper on the field
work but not enough to scare away
the urbanites. Another little shower
later on in the week wouldn't hurt,
either.
See you there, folks. And in case
you haven't hear, this year's match
runs from September 17 to 22.0
RAISE MONEY
FOR YOUR CLUB OR
ORGANIZATION
Sell subscriptions to
The Rural Voice
and earn money for your
4-H Association, Junior Farmers
group or other rural organization.
Substantial commissions offered.
(opportunities particularly good in
Wellington, Waterloo, Oxford,
Middlesex and Lambton Counties.)
For more information
contact Keith Roulston,
Publisher 523-4311