Teeswater – On Monday evening, the Ontario Plowman’s Association celebrated the many community partners involved in bringing the 2008 International Plowing Match to Teeswater. “Come Home to the Country”, running September 16th-20th, will showcase Bruce County, all eight municipalities and local agriculture in the largest event the area has ever seen. Highlighting the many aspects of agriculture, rural life and down home hospitality, it’s expected 80,000 people will attend over the five days.

Int the photo: l-r Bruce County Warden Milt McIver, IPM Chair Jack Riley, OTF Rep Ron Oswald, Huron Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell, IPM Tented City co-chair Joan Borho, OPA Assistant General Manager Cathy Lasby, Bruce Grey Owen Sound MPP Bill Murdock, South Bruce Mayor Bill Goetz

“Hosting the 2008 International Plowing Match is giving us a chance to share, with the world, the many things make Bruce County special,” said MPP Carol Mitchell. “I’m so proud that over 1,500 people have stepped up to, to volunteer, and help bring this event to our home. Once again, thanks to the help of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, our community is being given a chance to shine and grow stronger.”

Local Bruce County MPP’s, Carol Mitchell (Huron-Bruce) and Bill Murdoch (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound) took the opportunity to officially announce a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The IPM has been awarded a $30,300 grant to help provide a strong volunteer management program for the over 1,500 volunteers involved in the success of the event. Joining MPP Mitchell and Murdoch to present the cheque was OTF representative, Ron Oswald. OTF is an agency of the Government of Ontario. For over 25 years, the Foundation has supported the growth and vitality of communities across the province.

“The Plowing Match is a massive undertaking for a community. Finding and organizing volunteers takes time, money and experienced leadership, and the grant provided by OTF will assist the organizers in having a management program in place to make sure that volunteers run everything smoothly,” said MPP Bill Murdoch.

A one hundred acre “Tented City” will offer 600 exhibitor spaces with 200 large showcase tents, seven entertainment stages and a county exhibit. A 25 acre antique and historical area will be built. There will be space for over 2000 RV’s parked in the adjacent lot. It will cost $3 million to stage but will leave an economic impact of more than $20 million in our region.

OPA Assistant General Manager Cathy Lasby stated “ The Ontario Plowmen’s Association is extremely proud of the hundreds of volunteers who make up Team IPM 08. Together, they have organized an outstanding event that will influence Bruce County now and for many years to come. With the assistance of OTF, outstanding leaders have developed and will continue to contribute to the community. New friends and new leaders make the volunteer efforts very rewarding.”

IPM Tented City co-chair Joan Borho, who teamed with Cathy Lasby in applying for the grant, enthusiastically stated, “The OTF grant will assist the IPM with the many expenses for the volunteers, thus enabling our volunteers from across the whole Bruce County to be more effective as they welcome visitors to our beautiful Bruce County. Working with the OTF team and our local MPPs has shown us just how much they truly care about the well being of the citizens of the County”

Whether this is your first visit to Bruce County or you are local or you are returning home, experience Canada's largest outdoor agricultural exhibition from September 16th - 20th 2008, as Bruce County welcomes you to "Come Home to the Country".

A large gathering of IPM Committee chairs and volunteers were on hand for the event, followed by a BBQ prepared by the local 4-H Club at the Teeswater Community Centre.