The Rural Voice, 2006-09, Page 382006 IPM expects 100,000 at site near Keene
They're calling it the biggest
ever event to be held in
Peterborough County and
expecting 100,000 people to come to
the 2006 International Plowing
Match at Mather's Corners, just west
of the village of Keene, southeast of
Peterborough. The event is expected
to pump $25 million into the
county's economy.
Some 1600 camp sites have been
created for visitors to stay at during
the event from Tuesday, September
19 to Saturday, September 23.
The size of the show has
mobilized the entire community.
"The scope of the volunteering is
beyond what we've seen in
Peterborough," said Norm Blodgett,
chair of the organizing committee.
All 13 Lions and Lioness Clubs in
the county will be handling the
lounge/ hospitality tent and the
Kawartha Police .Retirees
Association has volunteered to
organize parking and security, just
two examples of the volunteer spirit.
Visitors can literally get a taste of
the area at the a series of 40 -minute
demonstrations by 25 area chefs
from restaurants in the county at the
tent theatre in the lifestyles area.
Local farmers will also present foods
grown on their farms.
Some 10,000 students are
expected to take part in the
education area. Displays will help
children learn about how their food
is created. There will be a discovery
tent for students from Grade 3 and
upward where they can learn from
the Hiawatha First Nation how wild
rice was traditionally harvested in
the county.
Elsewhere they can see two 30 -foot
mobile trailers — the chicken
mobile and the pork mobile — that
allow them to see the inside of a
modern livestock operation.
One of the largest displays of quilts
ever, more than 200, will be on
display at the quilt show. At an
artisans' market place there will be
work for sale from 55 vendors.
Over 300 antique tractors,
stationary engines and three steam
engines will be take part in a daily
parade. There will also be displays
of pioneer crafts from blacksmithing
to threshing to apple pressing and
wool spinning.
In the entertainment tent will
feature music from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. each day with a full spectrum of
music from the rural flavour of
country, to old time fiddling, rock
and roll, classical and jazz. There will
be a separate stage in the RV park
with music from 7:00 to 11:00 each
evening.
About 150 competitors are
expected to take part in the tractor
classes in the four-day plowing
competition, ranging from 4-H
members in the junior competition to
seniors. Some 30-40 teams are
expected in the horse classes.
Premier Dalton McGuinty is
expected to attend along with
Lieutenant Governor James
Bartleman and Peterborough Mayor
Sylvia Sutherland.
The show is open 8:30 a.m. to
5:00 p.m. daily.0
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SEPTEMBER 2006 35