Lambton County is going to host the 2027 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo.

The event creates a small city in the middle of a farmers field and attracts thousands of people to view everything from the plowing competition to the latest in farm equipment, local foods, crafts and entertainment. The last IPM in Dufferin drew 70,000 people. It also attracts the attention of provincial politicians who attend to mix with the crowds and take part in a celebrity plowing match.

The idea to host the massive event came together at the Brigden Fair last year as Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey, Dennis Robinson of the Brigden Fair and Dennis Bryson of the Lambton’s Plowmen’s Association sat together after the scholarships from the International Plowing Match held in 1991 were handed out.

“Dennis Robinson sat on one side and I sat on the other, and we had his ear,” says Bryson.

There have been a number of organizing meetings and Tuesday, the IPM announced Lambton as the host this year for the event held on the third week of September.

It’s not Lambton’s first rodeo. The community hosted the International Plowing Match in 1923 on the land which Lambton College now sits and in 1973 when the McGugan family hosted the event in their field on Old Walnut Road. In 1991, the group came together again to host the IPM on what is now Plowing Match Road in Enniskillen Township.

Bryson says the hope is the 2027 event could be held at the Brigden Fairgrounds, but that will have to be approved by the IPM. Bryson says it is the perfect spot noting the Brigden Fair’s mascot is The Plowman.

Bryson says a series of meetings will be held to attract volunteers to begin organizing the event. The meetings will be held in Oakdale at the hall on Bentpath Line April 29 at 7 pm, at Brigden Fairgrounds April 30 at 7 pm and in Wyoming at the Royal Canadian Legion May 2 at 7 pm.

Anyone interested in being involved can contact Bryson at (519) 828-3311 or by emailing him at [email protected].