IPM in Bruce County impresses under sunny skies
BY SCOTT STEPHENSON
When the International Plowing Match (IPM) made its triumphant return to Walkerton last week, Bruce County celebrated this auspicious silver anniversary with a farm festival for the ages.
From start to finish, Walkerton’s rural revelry was end-to-end exciting. Horses pulled plows, steam engines billowed, tractors danced, songs were sung and there were enough skill demonstrations, food options and shopping opportunities to keep anybody occupied for days on end.
Whether it was Coastal Coffee slinging free caffeine in the Lifestyles Tent or the sweet respite of CKNX’s Barn Dance-inspired shady saloon, Huron County made a big impression at the party.
There was also plenty of local success to celebrate out in the plowing fields, as three ace plowmen from all over the county earned some earthy accolades. Walton’s Brian McGavin plowed his way into the winner’s circle when he took the championship spot in Class 2, Group 4 for Tractors - Two-Furrows (20 years and older).
Seaforth’s Dugald McIntosh claimed the Ontario Junior Champion title, and Brendan Hickey of Auburn took Reserve Junior Champion, which means the two young plowmen have now earned the right to represent Ontario at the 2027 Canadian Plowing Championships. On Saturday’s Junior Day, Mclntosh also won an Honourable Mention, out of 35 young competitors.
Huron County’s winning hand at the IPM was rounded out by a pair of queens. First, former Ontario Queen of the Furrow (QotF), Seaforth’s Maranda Klaver, was front and centre as chair of this year’s competition. Always sharply dressed and never short of advice, Klaver spent the match helping guide this year’s crop of rural representatives through the competition, offering tips, tricks and instructions while shepherding them through events and photo opportunities.
On Friday, when the battle for the crown concluded, Normanby’s Carmen Ward took the top spot. But, although she didn’t win the whole thing, Huron County’s 2025-2026 Queen, Gracie Hoggarth, made her community proud when she was voted this year’s Miss Friendship by her fellow contestants.
It wasn’t just her winning attitude that made Hoggarth stand out from the crowd - she also delivered a stirring speech that really summed up what the plowing match of today is all about. But, along with all the spirit and spectacles, the IPM also delivers a powerful message: agriculture matters.
That message came through loud and clear through Hoggarth’s speech. “People say farmers have a lot of patience - after all, you can’t rush the crops you grow! But, sometimes, I think students have to have even more patience, as they wait to learn about agriculture in school,” she told the crowd. Here we are in one of the most agriculturally-rich provinces in Canada, with over 4,800 farms growing more than 200 different commodities; yet, for many young people, especially those growing up in urban areas, agriculture can feel like a world away.”
The IPM isn’t just a celebration of agriculture in all its many forms - it’s also a giant outdoor classroom that offers students of all ages a chance to see, touch, ask questions and learn about the industry that puts the food on our tables.
Hoggarth herself does not come from a farm - her enthusiasm for agriculture was sparked through her involvement with the Huron County Plowmen’s Association and by participating in rural events throughout the county.
“Agriculture isn’t just about farming - it’s science, technology, business and sustainability. It’s tied to climate change, food security and innovation - yet it’s barely present in our school curriculum,” she pointed out. “I believe we need to change that. Imagine a child planting their first seed in a school garden, and learning about soil, pollinators and weather. Imagine tracking that plant’s growth in math, learning about local farming in social studies, or having a farmer come into the classroom and share what really happens on a farm.”
A child watching a plow turn over the soil is seeing science in action. A student learning about machinery is encountering engineering and technology. A visit to a livestock display opens the door to animal science. Sometimes, just one conversation with a farmer can turn one’s concept of agriculture from the abstract into something tangible.
The IPM is a place where all those moments happen for visitors from all over Ontario, and beyond. It brought students together with machinery, livestock, crops and the people who make their living from the land. “This kind of education benefits everyone. For farmers, it means a better-informed public. For students, it opens the door to new ways of thinking about science, sustainability and careers they may have never considered,” Hoggarth advocated in her speech. “Agricultural education shouldn’t be something we only learn if we are lucky enough to be exposed to it. Without that knowledge and connection, our next generation can be left unequipped to tackle one of the greatest challenges of our time: how to sustainably feed a growing population. … Let’s stop treating agriculture like an afterthought. Ontario needs to start growing minds, not just crops.”