August 22, 2026
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What is North America’s largest outdoor agricultural and rural exposition? It’s the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM), held every year in Ontario.
Bruce County has hosted the match three times: in 1976 and 1993 near Walkerton and in 2008 at Teeswater. The IPM returns to Walkerton this year for five days, Sept. 22–26. In fact, this marks the 50th anniversary of the first IPM in Bruce County, in 1976.
The Ontario Plowmen’s Association has held a the IPM in Ontario every year since 1913, excepting 1918, the war years of 1942–1945, and 2020–21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bruce County also hosts annual plowing matches, put on by the Bruce County Plowmen's Association.
These matches showcase both vintage and contemporary farming skills, bringing farmers together in friendly competition. In the classes of horse plowing and tractor plowing, the judges look for “straightness, firmness, evenness, depth, shape and uniformity. A good plowed furrow must be straight with a smooth trough and clean, even sides.”
In 1976, Bruce County hosted the IPM from Sept. 28 to Oct. 2, with the slogan “Bruce Beckons — Come and Mix in ’76.” An estimated 200,000 came to the farm of Earl Johnston and neighbouring farms, 2.5 miles west of Walkerton.
Some 800 acres were needed for plowing and for parking cars. A total of 103 plowmen entered the competitions, including three from Ireland. Some plowed with horses, but most used tractors with various-sized plows.
Tent City sprang up with power lines, underground water lines, water brought in from Teeswater in milk-tank trucks, 40 portable toilets, and fire and police protection. It took over an hour for the daily parade of oxen, horses, ponies, tractors and farm machinery of varied vintage, to pass a given place as it meandered through Tent City. Helicopter rides were popular with visitors.
More than 500 exhibitors completely filled the allotted 110 acres of space. Exhibits and demonstrations ran the gamut from arts and craft displays to the erection of a barn with steel sheets and metal poles in a matter of minutes. Colourful Bruce County tartan was in evidence everywhere, on Glengarry caps, scarves, tams, skirts and jackets.
Five days of good weather blessed the next IPM in Bruce County, held again at the Johnston farm, Sept. 21–25, 1993. The attendance of 150,149 visitors yielded a healthy profit, which was donated to the County of Bruce General Hospital in Walkerton, to go toward a CT scanner. On the first day, prime minister Kim Campbell officially opened the match and tried her hand at plowing.
For the 2008 IPM, Wayne and Wendy McKague and a dozen other landowners north of Teeswater, together contributed 1,000 acres to host the event. A total of 94,500 people passed through the gates between Sept. 16–20, to tour the Tent City, RV park, plowing land, parking fields and airstrip — 58 planes brought passengers to visit the IPM.
Plowmen and women from across the province came to compete, and a junior plowing match was held Saturday for ages 10-21. Tent City, with its 650 exhibitors, covered more than 100 acres, while the RV Park welcomed more than 1,800 RVers. All this was made possible by the work of more than 2,100 volunteers.
The big crowd-pleaser was the Team Farmall square-dancing tractors — Teeswater residents bought and refurbished a dozen Farmall tractors and performed before 3,000 people per show.
In 2026, the IPM returns to the Bruce for the fourth time, from Sept. 22-26. It’s on the same 1,200 acres of Bruce County farmland as the 1976 match, west of Walkerton at the corner of Durham Road and Bruce County Road 3.
This September, don’t miss the IPM’s Tent City, with its 100 acres of exhibitors showcasing their products. You’ll find live music, displays of antiques and quilts, artisan vendors and a chance to learn about farming life at historical and educational displays.
The Bruce County Historical Society will have a display in the History Tent. Also, stop by the Society's booth in the Souvenir Tent and get our latest book, “Furrows of Bruce County: A harvest of stories from the farm.”
It’s a homage to farming in the county, with many stories from the past 175 years. You can read how farming played a huge role in settling the county, discover the history of fairs and plowing matches, and dip into the diaries of farm women.
“Furrows of Bruce County” is generously illustrated with historic photographs of farms, livestock, vintage tractors, threshing crews, plow, and, of course, furrows.
You can also get “Furrows of Bruce County” by contacting the Society's book sales director, Bill Stewart (willstew@bmts.com). Or visit these fine bookstores: the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre in Southampton, Treasure Chest Museum in Paisley, Holst Office Supplies in Walkerton, Bruce County Bookstore in Cargill, Little Blue House Café/Gallery in Tiverton, Hamilton's Toys and More in Kincardine, Treats and Tales in Kincardine, Berford Street Books in Wiarton, Shops at 84 Main in Lion's Head, and Readers' Haven Book Store in Tobermory.
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