CORNWALL, Ontario – It’s official.
Organizers of the 2015 Stormont Dundas & Glengarry International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM) have signed an agreement with the Ontario Plowmen’s Association (OPA) to host the event.
Melvin Switzer, OPA president, and a number of county directors from across the province were on hand for the signing.
There was a rally-like atmosphere in the banquet hall of the Finch arena as the kickoff was indeed a countdown to the 2015 IPM which will take place a few kilometers north of Finch in less than 11 months.
IPM chair Jim3 Brownell said upwards of 200 volunteers and community leaders who attended the event, that while the paper work is now in place, many volunteer hours and commitment to the event really began in early 2012.
“When I was asked to be chair of the IPM committee in March 2012, shortly after the bid was accepted by the Ontario Plowmen’s Association, I can tell you there was already a dedicated group in place ready to make this IPM the best one yet,” he said.
Cathy Lasby, executive director of the Ontario Plowmen’s Association congratulated the volunteers on the organization and hard work that has already been done.
“When you come into this county you can feel the buzz,” she said. “You can feel it already. And it spreads very quickly.”
Also unveiled to hails of enthusiasm were mock ups of two billboard –sized signs soon to be installed on County Road 43 highway west of Finch and at the IPM site on Concession road 2-3 and County Road 12.
The level of support for the IPM from the local business community was evident. Corporate partner Shane’s Signs of Crysler provided not only the site signage but a number of other services and products at cost or as in-kind donations.
Equally enthusiastic is volunteer Todd Helmer who heads up the signage committee.
“I’m in awe of the graphics on the signs,” he said of the work of local graphic designer and volunteer Colleen Parette. “She did such a great job of depicting our region and our logo, Link to the Past, Look to the Future,” he said. “The images and colours in her art work really reflect us and our ties to agriculture.”
Delaney Bus lines of Avonmore, a long-time corporate partner of the IPM, has also worked with designer Colleen Parette and Shane’s Signs to wrap one of its Ottawa commuter buses with the same design work. It will hit the road this week.
