The Ottawa Carleton Plowmen’s Association (OCPA) Plowing Match was held on August 28,
2021, hosted by Gib and Elsie Patterson at Anderson Links Golf Course in Ottawa.
The one-day, scaled-down event drew 26 plowers using both modern and vintage tractors as well as horses to vie for titles in the OCPA Plowing Match.
Judges were Ray St. Denis and Matt McGuire. Steward was Lawrence Payne.
“We had to scale things down this year with COVID and all, but we were very grateful and fortunate to host what we did,” said Sharen Armstrong, OCPA President.
“We could not have done it without the unwavering support of our volunteers, plowers, and the agricultural com- munity. Our thanks are extended to one and all.”
It was a big day for Samuel Bourgon of St-Isidore who placed top-of-class in: Horse Class – Jointer Plow (open split required); Best Plowed Land Using Horses; and Overall Best Plowed Land.
Willian and Frederick Machabee of St-Albertrounded off the top honours in the Horse Class winning the Jointer Plow Amateur division.
In the conventional division, Allen Hills of Ashton, came out on top win-
ning Best in Class (age 21 and over) and Best Plowed Land Using a Conventional Plow.
Jean-Marc Dessaint of Sarsfield and Gordon Smith of Chesterville followed up with second and third respectively in the over 21 class, while Alex Dowdall of Lanark won the Conventional, 15 years and under class.
There was a strong showing in the antique plow classes. Jean-Guy Thivierge of Hammond,
took top honours in the Antique Tractor: Trail Plow Class – 1945 or older (open split required) followed by André Joly alsoof Hammond in second.
Antique Tractor: Trail Plow Class – 1946 to 1960 (open split required) was won by Michel Calande of Alfred, followed by Paul Bourbonnais of Sarsfield in second and Russell Jones of Lyndurst in third.
Michel Calande also earned top title as Best Plowed Land Using an Antique Plow. Top posting in Antique Tractor: Mounted Plow (open split required) went to Nicole Calande of Al-fred and second to Denis Bourbonnais of Gatineau.
All plowers must compete at local matches to be eligible to advance to
the International Plowing Match (IPM) and Rural Expo.
Unfortunately, 2021 marks the second consecutive year that the IPM has been cancelled due to COVID-19. The next IPM is scheduled to be held in Kemptville, September 20-24, 2022, at the former Kemptville College of Agriculture & Technology (KCAT) campus.
Plans are also progressing for IPM 2023 to be held in Dufferin County and IPM 2024 in Kawartha Lakes (Lindsay).