In the undulating fields of North Dumfries, a spectacle of agricultural mastery unfolded this Monday. The 114th annual Waterloo North Dumfries Plowing Match drew farmers from every corner of Ontario, putting on a show of precision and consistency in plowing that has been honed over generations.
Peter Sangers, President of the Waterloo North Dumfries Plowmen’s Association, labels consistency as the primary requirement of the job. He explains that keeping up the consistent rhythm of the plow, making sure each furrow is straight and neat is essential aesthetic dedication. It’s not just the plowmen who see the work, after all. The curious eyes of the neighbors always find their way to the plowed fields.
For many participants like Breanna Weiser, it’s a cherished heritage carried across generations. Aiding her great aunt, Kathleen MacRobbie, Weiser hails from Mount Forest and seeks to honor her great-grandfather, one of the forefathers of their family tradition. The radiant hope of making her late grandfather proud in heaven underlines her every move.
The event’s significance isn’t tied exclusively to familial legacy. While several categories were curated based on the type of machinery employed – horse or tractor, one’s ability to plow straight lines weighed heavily on the competition. Richard Elliott, a competitor near Strathroy, sees the match as both a friendly contest and a testament to tradition.
For Elliott, the competition has a unique charm, considering his main competitor happens to be his nonagenarian father, against whom he cheerfully admits defeat. In such contests, it isn’t just about lineage or camaraderie but also about the accomplishment, the satisfaction of work well-executed – conveyed in the art of straight line plowing. Elliot confirmed this sentiment, noting that the straightness of the plow features in majority of the judges’ criteria.
While the cash prizes do provide an incentive, cresting at $150, it’s less about the money and more about pride. As Elliot expressed, the satisfaction derived from the nod of approval from fellow competitors and a field of neat, straight furrows, overrides any financial reward in this age-old tradition swiftly etched into the heart of North Dumfries.
