Plowing match showcased West Nipissing's ag sector: Historical farming community proud to share its local culture.

• Date: 01 November 2019
• Author: Romaniuk, Colleen

If you were trying to track down Daniel Olivier at this year's International Plowing Match and Rural Expo, you probably had to wait in line.

The fifth-generation farmer, who owns Ferme Longvallon Inc. in Verner, was hosting close to 80,000 people in his backyard.

It was 1968 when Olivier attended his first plowing match as an 11-year-old boy. At the time, he never imagined that he would one day play host to one.

The 2019 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo kicked off on Sept. 17 and continued on to Sept. 21.

The annual event is a five-day celebration of agriculture and rural living. This year, it showcased the culture and historical significance of the agricultural industry in the West Nipissing district, a largely rural municipality located along Highway 17 between Sudbury and North Bay.

More than 800 acres of farmland were transformed into a sprawling and powered tented city, competitive plowing fields, and a fully serviced RV park. There were over 500 exhibitors and food vendors present at the event and four stages featuring live entertainment.

The IPM held its first gathering...