Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show celebrates its 25th anniversary
It’s hard to believe that this year Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, which is held this week in Woodstock Ont., celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Twenty-five years ago I wrote a column saying the Outdoor Farm Show, which had just started up that September prior to the IPM event, would spell disaster for the International Plowing Match (IPM).
At the time a new show was in the works. It would have permanent location in Woodstock and be held a week before the IPM. The IPM had to make some changes and added Rural Expo to their event hoping to draw more urban folks out. Adding entertainment, tents full of flea market stuff, antiques and antique tractors and vehicles, and many food concessions, the IPM became a huge flea market. The real farmers went to the Outdoor Farm Show and watched no-till drills at work and cows being milked by robotic milkers.
It’s a known fact that the true farmers attend the Outdoor Farm Show and the rural folks and the hobby farmers go to the Plowing Match.
The International Plowing Match (IPM), which is held in Ontario during the third week of September, was the top outdoor show for farm families for well over half a century. It was the place to be. The event moved around the province giving everyone the opportunity to attend an event in their neck of the woods.
The IPM is also an annual event for the hundreds of retired and semi-retired farmers who spend a week camped out in the trailer park. The trailer park has around 1,600 sites and it is a city in itself with its own entertainment and lots of music and old-time fiddling.
Agricultural exhibitors complained that there were too many non-farmers attending the event. They were the ones showing interest in the big tractors and wanting to sit in one, but a sale isn’t made to people with no land. Companies looked at the big expenses to showcase their wares to mostly non-buyers. Many pulled out of the event and left it to the local dealers to support the match.
It’s no wonder the big agricultural companies have pulled out of the IPM and left the local dealers to display their wares.
I will join more than 40,000 attendees to experience agricultural technology and innovation at Canada’s foremost outdoor farm event this week in Woodstock. This year marks the 25th anniversary of bringing the best and latest in agriculture to the field. There are 750 exhibitors showcasing products and services through interactive displays and live demonstrations of machinery, livestock, crops, niche markets, energy and much more. It’s also a great event to chat with old friends and neighbours.
