The Rural Voice, 1993-09, Page 31"One comment we have heard
repeatedly is that there is never any
place to sit down and relax so we're
bringing in picnic tables for that
purpose," explains Paul. No matter
where you sit, there will be
something to gaze at whether it be the
three-tier working fountain, the 10 -
foot bed of red and white flowers
carefully arranged to read "Best of
Bruce", or the pond, complete with a
gushing waterfall. "It is
elaborate," states Paul
matter-of-factly. That's a
bit of an understatement
when you consider the cost
of the courtyard alone is
estimated at $15,000.
Fortunately, through the
generosity of local
sponsors such as the
Independent Telephone
Companies of Bruce, most
of the cost is being covered. As well,
many of the special items such as the
fountain are being loaned to match
organizers for the week.
But Paul said the cost of the
courtyard is secondary when you're
trying to "amaze" people. "We want
to put on the best show we can do
and amaze people. We aren't putting
on just any plowing match, we are
out to show you what our best is."
There's that "boasting" again.
Each committee member has the
same attitude about the match and the
Family Lifestyles Program in
particular. It's evident in speaking
with them that they really believe
Bruce has something special and they
are determined to make sure visitors
at the plowing match see it too.
If they don't see it in the
courtyard, they will see it in the tents,
which the horticultural committee has
also tackled. The Arts and Crafts
tent, for example, will feature a
fountain with goldfish. Besides
giving guests something to look at,
Paul's commiuee is hoping to teach
them with horticultural
demonstrations in both the Food and
Fashion tents. Subjects to be covered
include wreath making, herb
gardening, container gardening and
floral arranging. Quite an offering
for a committee of six to shoulder
(the other five committee members
are women but they're all married,
jokes Paul, who's single) but they've
engaged the help of 20 to 30
volunteers to aid them in the setup.
Paul isn't the only one who has
scoured the county for volunteers.
Marlene Davis, chair of the Daycare
Committee, has been searching for
care givers to help operate the
daycare tent. While speaking to her
over the phone about her involvement
with the match, the muted sounds of
laughing children drifted over the
wire, revealing how this Bruce
farmer's wife got to be
involved in this aspect of the
Family Lifestyles Program.
"I see this as fulfilling a real
need," she says. Though the
idea of offering daycare isn't
new to the plowing match,
such a service hasn't been
provided in recent years.
Marlene pauses to check on
her children before saying,
"Last year, I saw a lot of
people walking around with
newborns and I wondered where they
went to change and feed their babies
— the food tents?" She also saw tired
and cranky toddlers who would much
rather play than walk around
displays. "No child should be
expected to trail around with a bunch
of adults all day," she confirms.
So, the daycare tent has been
designed to fulfill both needs by
providing a private, peaceful area for
parents to change and feed their
newborns and a daycare centre for
parents to leave their older children
for a while as they enjoy the match.
All at no charge. The older children,
who must be toilet trained and
between the ages of two and a half
and seven to be in
"We
put o
best sh
can
am
peop
want to
n the
ow we
and
aze
le."
the daycare tent,
will join up to 40
other youngsters
who will be minded
by no less than 10
volunteer care
givers at a time. As
well, Marlene and
two other commit-
tee members, one
being an Early
Childhood Educa-
tion graduate and
child care profes-
sional, will be
present every day.
And the children
will be entertained!
Marlene has lined
up singers, magicians, toy demonstra-
tors, clowns, musicians, craft teachers
and contests to keep the children
occupied. Besides that, the play area
will be fully equipped with sandbox-
es, riding toys and playground equip-
ment.
Safety is, of course, a prime con-
cern given the inevitable confusion
that results when hundreds of people
are milling about. To ensure the
safety of the play area, a chain link
fence has been set up around the
daycare domain. Only registered
children and parents may enter this
fenced -in area through a single access
point. The daycare tent will also be
the site of the Lost Children's Centre,
an appropriate locale, given that the
OPP tent is situated next door.
Free to roam and browse,
unencumbered parents can use their
time to scout the Food, Fashion and
Arts and Crafts tents each presenting
Bruce's best artisans, cooks and
stylists. Want to know how quick
and convenient beef can be, how
summer lamb sizzles or how to cat
for vitality? Maybe you'd like to
"Wok" with chicken, discover a
healthy fast food or find out why
turkey is the "Taste of the Times".
These are some of the topics
commodity groups, families and
celebrity cooks will be discussing and
demonstrating in the food tent. The
titles are catchy — "Boar'n to be
Wild" by the Canadian European
Paul Ribey (right) and Don Morley
look at blueprints of the courtyard
rest area at the IPM.
SEPTEMBER 1993 27