Prepared with an umbrella
Frank Joly competed in the Stormont County Plowing Match in Berwick on Sat., Oct. 7, driving an antique McCormick built in 1949. He travelled to Berwick from Rockland to participate in the Match. Joly was one of the lucky participants in the morning who had a bit of cover from the rain. He joked that the umbrella may not be vintage ‘49, but a newer addition. Joly has been competing in plowing since 2001. O’Donohue photo
Michelle O’Donohue
Record Contributor
BERWICK – On Sat., Oct. 7, crowds gathered at the farm of Patsy Casselman on County Road 9 to see 43 competitors in a range of five classes compete for top plowing honours. An additional seven 4-H members competed in their achievement day as well. Classes ranged from horse plowing, to antique, and more modern implements. It has become a bit of a tradition to hold the match on Thanksgiving weekend, but the busy weekend certainly did not deter spectators from coming out to show their support. For a second year in a row, participants and spectators braved rainy skies to engage in the festivities.
2016/2017 Stormont Princess of the Furrow, Haleigh-Jo Teplate of Finch, braves the rain to take her turn at plowing. Teplate was re-crowned Princess of the Furrow for 2017/2018, and will represent Stormont County for another year. O’Donohue photo
It was a full day of activities, with registration beginning at 9 a.m. and the evening’s banquet, held at the North Stormont Arena Hall, starting at 7:30 p.m. To add to the draw for families, there were wagon rides available, as well as the ever-popular Queen of the Furrow and Princess of the Furrow competitions. After a year of representing Stormont County at various events, culminating in the International Plowing Match in Huron earlier this fall, 2016/2017 Queen of the Furrow Kayla Manley of Newington and Princess of the Furrow Haleigh-Jo Teplate of Finch were both re-crowned in their respective categories to represent Stormont County for another year as the 2017/2018 winners.
Marwin Antoine of Lyndhurst competes in the Horse Plowing class, with horses Mac and Prince. When asked if the rain was much deterrent for the horses, Antoine advised it made little difference. O’Donohue photo
In addition to the standard classes, there was also VIP plowing in which SDSG MPP Jim McDonell, Deputy Mayor of South Stormont Tammy Hart, Mayor of North Stormont Dennis Fife, and South Stormont Councillor Richard Waldroff, participated in the plowing among other VIPs.
From left, North Stormont Mayor Dennis Fife stands with SDSG MPP Jim McDonell, and a proud sponsor of the Stormont Plowing Match, David Brown. O’Donohue photo
With the oldest plower being 87 and the youngest plower being nine, it is wonderful to see the multiple generations of plowing enthusiasts involved in this event, hopefully ensuring that it will continue on for many years to come.
Plowing results were as follows;
Class 1A Jointer Horse Plowing: 1st Samuel Bourgon, Dalkeith; 2nd Stephane Bourgon, Casselman; Class 1B Sulky Horse Plowing: 1st Ethan Jones, Brockville; 2nd Robert Jones, Brockville; Class 2A Antique Tractors with Trail Plow: 1st Michel Calande, Alfred; 2nd Dean Morris, Hammond; Class 2B – Antique Plowing, Competitors under 18 years of age; 1st Anthony Chevalley, Moose Creek; 2nd Jeremy Chevalley, Moose Creek; Class 2C – Antique plowing with a hydraulic mounted plow: 1st Marc Binette, Ste-Anne de Prescott; Class 3B Farm Standard 3-furrow plows: 1st Raymond Grady, Crysler; 2nd Cassidy Smith, Berwick; Class 4 Competitors 18 years and under open to all: 1st Justin Manley, Berwick; Class 5A 2-Furrow Competitive Plowing: 1st Allen Hills, Ashton; 2nd Joyce Buckley, Kemptville; Class 5B 3-Furrow Competitive Plowing: 1st Stephen Manley, Berwick; 2nd Kayla Manley, Newington.
