HCPM26: Nelson Underwood readies to host Plowing Match
BY SCOTT STEPHENSON
For 2026, the Huron County Plowing Match (HCPM) is making its way to Morris-Turnberry, and host Nelson Underwood, for one, is looking forward to welcoming visitors to his family farm on Aug. 20 and 21.
For Underwood, the decision to host this year’s event was about more than just providing plowmen with furrowable fields - it was an opportunity to bring a bonafide, county-wide event to Morris-Turnberry. “My biggest reason was that, as far as I’m aware of, the plowing match has never been held before in northern Huron County,” he told The Citizen. “This just seemed like the right time to do it - it’s a good community betterment project for everybody.”
He may be the host of the event, but Underwood’s workload has been lightened every step of the way by a hard-working team of volunteers. “I’m the host, so my involvement is limited - the committees are doing the majority of the work,” he said. “They’re the ones working to put things together. We’ve got some really good committees. In general, things are looking good,” he said. “I think we’ll be in pretty good shape for Aug. 20 and 21.”
While the Underwood clan has participated in many extra-agricultural activities over the years, the scale of the HCPM will be something new for his farm. Preparations for the plowing match are now well underway. A few improvements are being made around the property to accommodate the influx of visitors and ensure that competitors have what they need. “We are making some small changes in lane entranceways and water lines, and making some changes in the facility for the banquet,” he said. “Those are the main things - I know, for the banquet, they usually expect about 300 people, but every year is a little bit different.”
For Underwood, being a successful HCPM host comes down to co-operation and communication. “Plowing Match hosts need to be pretty open to public opinions,” he explained. “You deal with a variety of people… and a variety of plowmen. Everybody needs to be able to work together to come up with a plan that generates a really good day for everybody.”
Underwood’s farm provides a unique setting for the event. “It’s rolling land - maybe a little different compared to central Huron County, but it’s still pretty productive ground,” he said. “In general, it will provide a pretty good facility for the people that are wanting to plow.”
The Underwood family also have a super-local co-host helping them out - their neighbour and Huron County Warden, Jamie Heffer. “I’m pretty lucky - I live right beside the warden!” Underwood exclaimed. “Jamie Heffer is an excellent warden. There’s a really good complement between the two of us - we work pretty closely together, and we’ve both got a really good relationship with the county staff and administration regarding the plowing match, so everything should turn out pretty well.”
More than anything else, the HCPM is about coming together. “We’ve lost a little bit of a connection,” Underwood posited. He believes that large-scale agricultural events like the HCPM increase the strength of rural communities by helping neighbours reconnect with each other. “We’re also developing a lot of good spirit - between communities, between individuals, and between rural people working together.”
As the final preparations continue, Underwood has a simple invitation for residents across Huron County and beyond. “Come to the plowing match!”