International Plowing Match will spotlight Northern Ontario agriculture: West Nipissing gears up for provincial agriculture expo in September, expected to draw thousands.

• Date: 01 August 2019
• Author: Myers, Ella Jane

When Daniel Olivier experienced his first International Plowing Match and Rural Expo as a young boy in 1968, he was "awestruck."

He remembers wandering the packed grounds, thrilled by the tractors and shiny machinery.

Since then, the third-generation farmer has been to more than 20 of the annual matches, and he'll be attending yet another this fall, Sept. 17 to 21.

This match will be a little different, because it's happening on Olivier's own farm in Verner, a small agricultural community in West Nipissing, roughly halfway between North Bay and Sudbury.

"When I did that 50 years ago, I didn't envision it would ever come up to Northern Ontario," said Olivier.

This will actually be the second time the 102-year-old match is held in Northern Ontario.

In 2009, it was in Earlton, a farming community on Highway 11, north of New Liskeard, a couple of hours' drive to the north.

It's jointly run by the Ontario Plowmen's Association and a host community each year.

Driving through the region's lush yellow fields, it's impossible to miss the plowing match signage, even months in advance.

The Plowing Match's purple and green flags, featuring a tractor and farmhouse bordered with pines, line the roads...