PEMBROKE — The County of Renfrew has been requested by the Ontario Plowmen’s Association (OPA) to consider hosting a future International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM).
First launched in 1913 this annual outdoor agricultural and rural living festival contributes to agriculture, food, tourism and regional economic development. The IPM provides a unique showcase to the world of local agriculture and food production, lifestyle and culture, wood and building products, crafts and rural living products, and services and tourism experiences. Regions across Ontario have hosted the IPM and it brings both immediate and long-term economic and social benefits attracting visitors, promoting and selling local products, showcasing the best of Ontario agriculture, uniting communities in a major project and even attracting new residents and investment to an area.
Renfrew County last hosted the IPM in 1994 and it attracted close to 100,000 visitors and generated $500,000 in proceeds which were invested in the Renfrew County 911 system and the supporting civic addressing and communications equipment.
“The Renfrew County IPM in 1994 was one of the most successful plowing matches ever put in place,” said Petawawa Mayor Bob Sweet, chairman of the County Development and Property Committee. In recent years, IPMs have attracted an average of 80,000 visitors and they continue to provide a premier showcase opportunity for communities and regions and the entire agri-business sector.
To host the IPM 800+ acres of fields are required to host a tented city of displays, vendors and entertainment, competition plowing fields, a recreation vehicle park, and automobile parking area. Ideally three phase power is readily available to the site and the fields must be available for IPM set up from late July until the close of the show and site cleanup in late September in the year of IPM. There are various rates of compensation for property owners and ideally the crops planned for the IPM fields would produce a good cover for the various uses intended; ensuring land suitable for exhibits, displays, pedestrian and vehicle traffic and for the plowing competitions themselves.
Property owners interested in hosting the IPM are encouraged to collaborate with neighbours to assemble suitable acreage, if necessary. In order to start planning for an IPM potentially in 2020 we would need to identify a site as soon as possible and we are seeking responses from interested property owners by Friday, July 6, 2018.
For additional information and to inform the County of Renfrew of your interest in hosting the IPM, please contact David Wybou at Tel. 613.735.0091 ext. 432 or Email: [email protected].
