Agriculture: Amid the political posturing, St. Thomas Mayor Cliff Barwick reminds visitors at the opening ceremony, it’s supposed to be fun
By Kyle Rea QMI Agency


It’s the “biggest outdoor show on Earth,” and it’s under way just east of St. Thomas.

So enthused Laureen Harper, wife of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, as she opened the 2010 International Plowing Match, Tuesday.
Hundreds of visitors, volunteers, politicians and dignitaries gathered for the opening ceremonies of the match, which runs until Saturday.
Harper unveiled a restored 1900s Cockshutt plow, given by match organizers to former PC agriculture minister John Wise.
“I’m really thrilled to be part of the celebration of rural agricultural life and I’m especially pleased to be involved when the theme of the match is the timeless, vital role of women in agriculture,” Harper said.

“Back home in Alberta, we call the Calgary Stampede the greatest outdoor show on earth, but as great as the stampede is, I would say today it’s pretty obvious that the biggest outdoor show on earth is right here in Elgin County,” she said to cheers.

The plowing match, on 340 hectares east of St. Thomas on Hwy 3, is expected to draw more than 100,000 visitors.
Plowing match chairperson Duncan McPhail said it took years of work and hundreds of volunteer hours to make the match a reality.
“You take a farmer’s field, you plant an idea as a seed, you use sponsorship and co-operation as the nutrients, thousands of volunteers as the moisture and look around, look what you can grow in St. Thomas and Elgin County,” he said.

Premier Dalton McGuinty and most of his caucus wore red at Tuesday’s opening

“A lot of things have changed over the last 200 years but one thing hasn’t: Ontario farmers from the youngest to the oldest, still love this land. And Ontarians like me, who don’t farm, are richer for it,” McGuinty said. “Thanks for your perseverance and your resilience. Thanks for the safest, tastiest, heathiest food that you put on our table every day.”

Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak, wearing blue, said his party will continue to press for farm support.
“(We) believe in standing up for folks who feed our province and grow our rural economy.”

Andrea Horwath, leader of the provincial NDP party said: “Strong and growing is how I see farming in this province and I can’t see it happening by itself . . . The government should do something to support farming in Ontario.”

Joe Preston, Conservative MP for Elgin-Middlesex-London, praised volunteers.

“At a time when St. Thomas and Elgin county needed a boost, boy look around you, look at the names, look at the faces.
“That’s the type of people we have . . . That’s what makes St. Thomas and Elgin County great.”

His counterpart Liberal MPP Steve Peters said “it’s great” that women are being saluted.

“They play a much bigger role today than they did in the past,” he said. “And don’t ever forget: Buy local, buy Canadian and support our farmers.”
St. Thomas Mayor Cliff Barwick said political affiliations aren’t the focus.

“Whether you’re wearing red, blue, orange or green, or nothing at all, you’re here to have a good time and to have those pleasant memories,” he said.

“This event is a very special one because we have the county and the city coming together to host this event. Let it never be said there isn’t co-operation between the city of St. Thomas and the County of Elgin because here it is in front of you.”