Bruce County IPM preparations enter final stretch ahead of September event
BRUCE COUNTY – With less than 70 days remaining before the 2026 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo, preparations are continuing across Bruce County as volunteers and committee members work toward opening day for one of Ontario’s largest agricultural events.
The five-day event will run from Sept. 22 to Sept. 26 and is expected to attract about 70,000 visitors from across Ontario, throughout Canada, the United States and beyond.
“There’s a significant amount of planning, organizing and collaborating amongst various committees,” said Bill Walker, media spokesperson. “We have a total of 68 committees that are actually working on the plowing match, and about 900 to 1100 volunteers have already registered for the actual week of the match.”
Now entering its 107th year, the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo rotates to a different Ontario community each year through a partnership between the Ontario Plowmen’s Association and a local committee. The annual event gives each host community an opportunity to showcase its agricultural industry, rural lifestyle and local attractions while welcoming visitors from across the province and beyond.
“There’s still a lot of details to take care of,” said Walker. “The organizing committee is meeting once a week to make sure everything is coming into play as originally planned.”
Bruce County will host this year’s event, with local volunteers working alongside the Ontario Plowmen’s Association to prepare the site and organize the many activities that take place over five days.
The International Plowing Match is known as a celebration of agriculture and rural living. While plowing competitions remain at the centre of the event, the schedule also includes educational opportunities, live entertainment, food vendors, an RV park and hundreds of exhibitors displaying everything from large farm equipment to lifestyle products and services.
Activities are designed to appeal to a wide range of visitors, with programming for people of all ages throughout the week. Entertainment takes place in multiple venues across the grounds, while exhibitors and vendors offer visitors an opportunity to explore agricultural technology, rural businesses and other products.
Preparing for an event of that size requires months of work from volunteers. Opportunities begin well before opening day with planning and site preparation and continue throughout the event before wrapping up with teardown after the final day.
Volunteers support nearly every part of the International Plowing Match. Responsibilities include horse and tractor plowing, Tented City, antiques, entertainment, marketing, souvenirs, education, lifestyles and quilts, the RV park, wagon tours, landscaping, beautification, parking and traffic, gates, health and safety, the parade and information booths.
Volunteer positions remain available for people interested in contributing their time and skills. The event also gives volunteers an opportunity to connect with their community, gain experience and meet new people while helping deliver one of Ontario’s largest agricultural gatherings.
The International Plowing Match also brings significant economic activity to the communities that host it. Tourism industry figures estimate the event generates about $25 million annually, not including the longer-term tourism benefits that continue after the event has ended. Visitors often return to host communities after discovering local attractions, businesses and destinations during the match.
Revenue generated by the event also supports local communities. Profits from the International Plowing Match are donated to groups and organizations within the host area, extending the impact beyond the five days of activities.
Accessibility planning also forms part of the preparations. Because the International Plowing Match is held in a different farm field each year, the site presents challenges that permanent venues do not face. Temporary roads are built from soil and can be uneven in places.The event’s stewardship practices also require the property to be returned to its original condition once the match is complete. That includes removing temporary infrastructure and restoring the farmland after visitors have left.
Additional accessibility information will be made available once planning is finalized. The goal is to provide a welcoming and safe experience for visitors while recognizing the realities of hosting a large outdoor event on working farmland.
The 2026 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo will take place from Tuesday, Sept. 22, through Saturday, Sept. 26, with daily hours from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. As the countdown to opening day continues, planning meetings, volunteer efforts and committee work remain focused on ensuring every part of the event is ready to welcome thousands of visitors to Bruce County this September.
By Emily Bowen, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Mildmay Town Crier
