Ottawa-Carleton Plowing Matches: a brief history
This article, authored by Georgina and William Tupper first appeared in the RTHS Newsletter in September, 2014
The first recorded local plowing match was held in Bytown (Ottawa) in 1852 as part of the Carleton County Agriculture Society’s annual exhibition. These early matches provided the plowmen with the opportunity to display their plowing skills, enjoy a family outing with friends and neighbours, and to learn about new equipment either imported from Europe or crafted by local blacksmiths. Prior to 1852 early matches were held in conjunction with the Provincial Exhibition.
In the 1880s the Province of Ontario was divided into five sections to host Provincial Matches on a rotational basis. Ottawa hosted one such match at the Experimental Farm in 1900. In 1924 the Marlborough-North Gower Plowman’s Association was formed. This area would become a hotbed of plowing competition. This Township organization grew into the present Ottawa-Carleton Plowman’s Association. These organizations have hosted annual plowing matches since 1924, and provide the foundation for the 2014 competition and match.
The Provincial Matches noted above eventually led to the formation of the Ontario Plowman’s Association. They assumed responsibility for hosting the Provincial Matches which are held annually across the Province. These matches have become known as International Plowing Matches. Ottawa-Carleton has hosted four such matches in 1932, 1952, 1983, and 2001. To give the reader some feel for the magnitude of the International Plowing Matches some 120,000 paid visitors attended the 1983 Match. Each of these matches have left a lasting legacy in the community. For instance the 1983 Match resulted in the creation of endowment funds at Kemptville College and Guelph University to provide scholarships and bursaries for local students in agriculture and related subjects.
It should be noted that in the autumn of 1918 Ottawa was scheduled to host its first International Match. That Match was cancelled the day before it was scheduled to open by the Mayor of Ottawa and the Federal Minister of Agriculture because of the threat of the flu epidemic.
Ottawa-Carleton, known as a hotbed for competitive plowing, has produced two world plowing champions. In 1952 Algie Wallace won the World Horse Plowing Championship, and in 1953 and 1954 Colin Thomson won the World Contour Tractor Plowing Championship. Both were neighbours.
Over the years persons from Ottawa-Carleton have contributed enormously to the development of competitive plowing not only locally, but in Ontario and at the National and International level by providing Presidents, Directors, Judges, and Stewards.
In 1952 the organizers created a “VIP” plowing class. It began when then Mayor Charlotte Whitten issued a challenge to all Mayors in Ontario to compete against her. Nine responded. Eight competed. This “VIP” class continues locally as one our most significant events
In 1960 the Ontario Plowman’s Association initiated a “Queen of the Furrow” competition to act as ambassador for the Association. In 1977 the Ottawa-Carleton Plowman’s Association held their first Queen of the Furrow competition and have done so annually since then. These young women have been wonderful Ambassadors for our Association. In 1988 Jill Patterson of Metcalfe became the Ontario Queen of the Furrow.
