International Plowing Match: Pride of Leeds-Grenville

CROSBY — The ground is compacted from tractors and wagons and the grass on Tent City streets has been worn to dirt.

Today, the 1,000 acres that was the site of the International Plowing Match looks a little forlorn. But for five glorious days, from Sept. 18 to 22, the folks from Leeds-Grenville provided a top quality extravaganza of entertainment and education. Sunshine, blue skies and temperatures in the mid-twenties each day appeared as if ordered for the ocassion. Even the plethora of police officers with radars on opening day were in a cheerful mood, stopping speeding cars on the way to the event, and not giving out tickets.

"You were going 122 in an 80. Slow down and have a nice day," a police officer was heard saying to one relieved IPM visitor

Brockville-area dairy farmer and IPM volunteer Debbie Connell was beaming about the IPM. "The people of Leeds-Grenville should be proud," she said.

In fact, the dairy and beef demonstrations, in which Connell and her family took part, were educational and entertaining, in short superb. There were cattle shows and trimming demonstrations. Even the 4-week-old Portland phenomenon of four calves born to one cow was on display.

The more than 600 exhibitors unloaded antique and post-modern tractors, swimming pools and summer fashons. There was even a miniature hay bale maker. Food kiosks served up beef burgers, hot dogs on a bun and Philadelphia steak sandwiches.

Across Hwy 15, on day one, kids were competing. You could see the stress in their tense faces as they eyed the furrows.

"What’s the attendance?" we asked George Webster, a Lansdowne farmer, directing traffic at one gate. "We had 70,000 by the end of yesterday (Friday)," he said. There was one day to go.

Some time late Saturday morning, the IPM met its goal of 80,000 visitors.

By late afternoon, many of the exhibitors and 2,000 volunteers were exhausted. But visitors were reluctant to leave, walking and gawking shoulder-to-shoulder down the dirt streets of Tent City. The final tally: 87,975 visitors.

In a year’s time, the compacted roadways and tent city will be covered with crops again. Only the memories will remain and their promise of lasting.