Some organizers of the last Lambton-hosted International Plowing Match and Rural Expo are helping prepare for its return in 2027.

“There is a continuity between the organizers of the two, a mentorship if you’d like,” said Bryan Boyle, one of the volunteer who helped stage the 1991 provincial plowing match championships in Petrolia.

“It’s not the same people organizing,” he said, of the 2027 IPM slated for Brigden. “It was 35 years ago. But there is a mentorship thing so that we might encourage them.”

The legacy of the 1991 event continued in Brigden Saturday, amid the the Brigden Fair’s 175th anniversary, when three county 19-year-olds were selected for $2,000 scholarships, based on their community involvement, academic records and financial needs.

This year’s recipients are:

• Julie Drury, of Petrolia, who’s studying critical criminology at Brock University and planning to become a family lawyer focused on advocacy for children.
• Stacey Marsh, of Forest, a linguistic anthropology student at Western University planning a career as an audiologist;
• Tyler McGrail, of Plympton-Wyoming, an aspiring environmental lawyer, currently in justice and legal studies at the University of Guelph.

All are second-year post-secondary students.

The IPM 91 scholarships started with a $125,000 investment from organizers, earned from gate receipts, exhibit rental spaces and donations from the Petrolia event.

About $170,000 has been awarded since, Boyle said.

“For many years of high interest, we just allocated the interest,” with some support from the Lambton Plowmen’s Association, he said. “It’s only recently we’ve even started to use any of the equity.”

Whether any revenue gleaned from the 2027 International Plowing Match and Expo goes to bolstering the scholarships is being considered, he said.

“We haven’t come near close to depleting” the investment, he said. “But knowing the demand and how the costs have increased for the students and the number interested – we just are able to pick the top three – there’s always a possibility.”

Organizers never specify the number of applicants, but “there was, let’s say, a substantial number who applied.” he said.

Hopes are the2027 IPM continues boosting enthusiasm, he said.

The spirit of the IPM 91 scholarship included keeping “the presence and the focus on that past, with the goal of someday bringing (the IPM) back.,” he said.

“So I guess you could say in a small way we’ve contributed to that coming back, the idea returning to Lambton.”

~Tyler Kula~
Sarnia Observer