by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
BEACHBURG — The first round baler, which was built sometime in the 1950s or ‘60s, showed to be the most interesting antique at the Renfrew County Plowing Match, which was held Saturday on the McGregor farm near Beachburg.
Close to 2,000 people checked out the one-day event.
The day included meeting 2015 Queen of the Furrow Charlotte Mackay, listening to a variety of musicians on the main stage and a side stage, watching the various plowmen/women, watcing a tillage demonstration put on by various companies, checking out the many vendors, the kidzone and so much more.
There was also opportunity to meet the Renfrew County Farm Family of the Year — Briscolea Farms, owned by Betty and Alex Briscoe in Admaston-Bromley Township.
BMO Bank of Montreal awards program was created to promote a renewed urban-rural relationship and to recognize outstanding farm families who best typify the value of the family farmer to our society. The program, specifically, focuses on recognizing the contribution to the enhancement of quality of life as a family unit and the historical roots of the family in farming, said Renfrew County Plowmen’s Association president Myles England.
“The Briscoe family totally demonstrate these characteristics,” he said.
The family’s history goes back to when their family settled in Canada after the War of 1812.
Ms. Briscoe introduced her family that was in attendance, husband Alex, daughter Melanie (Smith) and grandchildren Chetley, Anthony and Lillian. She noted son William and son-in-law Travis Smith were back home harvesting corn. Other son Andrew is an RCMP officer in Manitoba.
Previous winners of this award were Vera and Stewart McBride and family and Larry Raeburn and family.
Following the singing of O’Canada by Khloe Bertrand from Haley Station, Mr. England welcomed everyone to the 34th annual match.
This year’s match is in a great spot, he said, thanking Jack and Shirley McGregor and Nathan and Jackie Latchford for opening their working farm to host the plowing match.
Mayor Hal Johnson said he knew it was going to be a great day for the match because no one was baling hay. Laughing, he explained, that if people were baling hay, you just knew it was going to rain.
On a more serious note, Mayor Johnson said, “Agriculture in Whitewater Region and Renfrew County is key to the success of our municpalites and families.”
The entire history of Canada in farming is displayed at this match, from the thrashing to the round baling to the tractors and horses, he said.
He recalled as a youngster he would hear the “horror stories” over and over again about how his sister could out-fork him on the thrashing mill.
Mr. Latchford thanked the people for attending the plowing match and the many volunteers who ensure the event is a crowd-pleaser.
“On behalf of the family, we welcome you to our farm,” he said.
Mr. England then introduced Charlotte Mackay, explaining that Cailen Bromley, last year’s Queen of the Furrow, was attending a 4-H event in Niagara Falls, so couldn’t hand over the crown this year.
Arnold Wren was presented with a Certificate of Merit as an Honourary Director with the Ontario Plowmen’s Association.
Tuesday morning, Mr. England said the plowing match was a tremendous success again.
The antique tractor and vehicle parade was a great hit with the people, he said. Larry Raeburn’s round baler stumped many people, because they could not figure out what it was.
“It was made before the small square balers were used,” Mr. England said.
The antique baler made small round bales, equal in size to a small square bale. Today’s round bales are about eight feet high and five feet around, he said. The big round bales didn’t come in until sometime in the 1980s, he added.
While there was not a big crew plowing this year, Mr. England believes it may be because the International Plowing Match is so near, that many are preparing to go there instad of to the county one.
The judge for this year’s plowing competitions was Mel McGuire of Spencerville, who has been coming to judge at the Renfrew County match for about three years.
In the media division, Connie Tabbert, editor of whitewaternews.ca was first, followed by Eganville Leader reporter Bruce McIntyre and Ashley Thomson from Star96 coming in third.
In the ladies two-furrow tractor plow, Joyce Buckley was first and in the men’s two-furrow tractor plow Ron Stinson was first.
In the elected official division, Whitewater Region council placed in the top three, with Mayor Hal Johnson in first, Councillor Cathy Regier in second and Reeve Terry Millar taking third spot.
In the one furrow walking plow, Cec Andress from Boulter (near Bancroft) was first and in the riding plow two furrow it was Lyle Killeen from Pakenham.
There were 12 participants in the 4-H Plowing Club.
Mr. England is hopeful there will be more plowmen / women next year. The competitors can use the tractor and plow provided or bring their own, he said.
The field this year “was amazing,” Mr. England said, noting the McGregor’s had just taken off their third cut of hay.
The tillage demonstration didn’t go as planned because it was sod ground instead of a grain field or corn stubble, he explained.
As for the event itself, Mr. England said, “The parade was a big hit with the people. They really enjoyed seeing the thrashing mill work up close. The antique display was bigger than last year. There was a lot of machinery that was moving and making noise.”
He noted Mother Nature co-operated until the end of the day, when the wind picked up and the temperature dropped by about 10 degrees.
Mr. England noted without the many volunteers and sponsors the plowing match wouldn’t be as successful as it is.
“The sponsors really came through for us this year,” he said. “A lot of the stuff was paid for before it even began. We appreciate the help.
“Our strength is our volunteers,” he added. “The event is totally run by volunteers. Without them, this wouldn’t go.”
The Plowmen’s Association is hoping to make a financial donation to Renfrew Hospice.
“We decided on donating to the hospice because, unfortunately, a lot of people we know have gone there,” he said.
While the location for next year’s plowing match has yet to be determined, the date is Saturday, Sept. 17.
