The International Plowing Match and Rural Expo will return to Lambton County in 2027.

The Lambton Plowmen’s Association said Wednesday it awarded the 2027 plowing competition and farm show typically attracting about 60,000 people.

Lambton held the match in 1923, 1973 and most recently in 1991 in Enniskillen Township, near Petrolia.

Dates and the location for the 2027 match haven’t been announced, but Dennis Bryson, who serves as chairperson for the local organizing committee, said it proposed the Brigden fairgrounds, and nearby lands, as the site.

The site must be approved by the Ontario Plowmen’s Association, he said.

“That all happened last fall at Brigden Fair,” Bryson said about the origins of a local effort to host the International Plowing Match again in Lambton

Bryson, Dennis Robinson from the Brigden Fair and Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey were having a chat following the announcement of the latest Lambton IPM 91 scholarship winners.

The annual scholarship was established with the proceeds of the 1991 plowing match in Lambton.

“All three of us agreed that we should pursue this thought of having the match again in Lambton County,” Bryson said.

Under the local proposal, the fairgrounds would be home to the “tented city” holding the Rural Expo, and other nearby lands could be used for the plowing competitions and other activities during the event, he said.

“We are thrilled to host the 2027 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo in Lambton County,” Bryson said in a news release.

“This event not only highlights our community’s dedication to agriculture but also unites the diverse talents and traditions of plowing from around the world,” he said. “We look forward to welcoming visitors and showcasing what makes Lambton County truly special.”

The match is expected to be held over five days in September 2027, Bryson said.

“There’s no reason we can’t make a successful event out of this, if Mother Nature should work with us,” he said.

“We are excited to partner with the Lambton Plowmen’s Association for the 2027 IPM,” Melvin Switzer with the Ontario Plowmen’s Association, said in the release.

“Lambton County has a rich farming narrative, and we believe this event will shine a spotlight on the innovative and sustainable practices that shape our agricultural community,” Switzer said.

This year’s match is being held in the Niagara Region, Sept. 16 to 20., and Bruce County is the host in 2026.

“Hosting the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo in 2027 will provide a significant boost to our local tourism and economy,” Mark Perrin, executive director of Tourism Sarnia Lambton, said in the release. “We can’t wait for what promises to be an unforgettable event.”

~Paul Morden~
The Sarnia Observer

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