The International Plowing Match and Rural Expo 2018 (IPM 2018) will celebrate individual achievements and the overall success of the event with a gala evening Friday, September 21, 2018.
“The Celebration of Excellence Gala will honour the individual winners from the plowing competitions and witness the crowning of the new Ontario Queen of the Furrow,” said Dean Muharrem, Co-chair, Related Events, in a media release.
“This will be a wonderful evening honouring the work and dedication of those taking part,” added Ticket Sales Co-ordinator Nancy Labadie. “The Celebration of Excellence Gala is always a well attended and greatly anticipated event.”
“This year, IPM 2018 will host 28 Queens from across Ontario as they compete for the title of Ontario Queen of the Furrow,” said Queen of the Furrow Co-chair Stephanie Campbell. “The very first Ontario Queen of the Furrow, Lynda Prong, was crowned in 1960 and this event often draws past local and Ontario Queens of the Furrow.”
“It is a wonderful way to spend an evening with friends old and new,” said IPM 2018 Co-Chair Leon Leclair. “It anchors the whole Match.”
The event will be held at the John D Bradley Convention Centre, 565 Richmond Street in Chatham.
The social gathering begins at 5:30 p.m. and dinner is served at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets cost $50 ($44.25 + $5.75 HST). Tickets are available at the IPM 2018 store, 934 Richmond Street in Chatham, by emailing 2018ipmgala@gmail.com or calling 519.365.6262.
The 2018 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo is expected to attract more than 80,000 visitors to the community of Pain Court in Chatham-Kent from September 18 to 22.
It will showcase Chatham-Kent’s important agriculture, business and tourism activities.
Vendor and exhibition space is still available and visitors can still book a site in the RV park.
Held by the Ontario Plowman’s Association in a different Ontario community each year, the Match has a very long and popular history.
To find out more, visit www.plowingmatch.org/ipm2018 or call 519-350-1686.
