Best ‘plowmen’ in Canada converge on midwestern Ontario for national championships

Canadian Plowing Championships near Ayton are keeping lost art of plowing alive, one furrow at a time. CTV London’s Scott Miller brings the story.

The art of turning a proper furrow is on display in farmer’s fields near Ayton this week, as the best plowmen in Canada take part in the National Plowing Championships.

“It’s nice to see the tradition carry on. I mean, these are the top in Canada. The opportunity to go to the World Championships. I went to the Worlds back in 2017. It’s a great opportunity,” said Jay Lennox, Local Chair of the Canadian Plowing Championships.

A select group of largely farmers are trying to keep their fields straight and their furrows clean and precise, as judges watch on.

“We want the furrow well packed. We want all the grass and sod buried. We don’t want sticks or straw or any green grass, sticking up. And we want nice ins and outs so we can finish the field,” said Canadian Plowing Championships, Head Judge, Jim Sache from Chilliwack, British Columbia.

Plowing has been around for thousands of years, starting with an ox and stick, says Sache. It’s purpose is to turn the soil over, to create a new fresh bed and to seed. It is used less and less in modern agriculture, as no-till farming and other advancements decrease the use of turning a furrow.

“Yeah, it is going away on farms. Lots of farms still do it, though. It’s just one tool that we can use to grow good crops. But, certainly keeping the art of it and the skill and the quality, it’s just, it’s nice to see it carry on,” said Lennox.

No one is happier to see it carry on than Bert Beyens, who has come all the way from Strathroy to watch the Canadian Plowing Championships. Beyens has plowed for Canada at eight World Championships. He started turning furrows at the ripe age of seven.

“People play hockey and play baseball, and we do the plowing. But if you want to make money, maybe baseball or hockey pays better,” said Beyens.

While not as lucrative as hockey and baseball, turning the best furrow at the Canadian Championships earns the top competitors a spot at the World Championships taking place next month in the Czech Republic.

“It’s just one thing that we can celebrate in agriculture, right. Farmers can come together and appreciate the sport,” said Lennox.