CHUTE-A-BLONDEAU— With just under 200 days remaining until the International Plowing Match (IPM) in Chute-A-Blondeau, IPM Spokesman Bruno Lecot is impressed with the preparations.
"Our planning initiatives have gone very well. We have already signed up over 600 volunteers, sold 5,000 copies of our cookbook, and sold thousands of dollars worth of promotional items and raffle tickets."
The organizers are thoroughly impressed with these numbers although they are on track, they are not where they need to be in the end. "In terms of volunteers, we need to have about 1,000 to put on an event like this," said Lecot. But the organizers realize they are where they want to be at this point.
The group has also had tremendous support in raising money. So far Lecot says that they have raised more than $750,000 from their cookbook sales, promotion items, raffles, municipal support and other donations. "What is great about this number is that the Ontario Plowmen’s Association is raising an equal amount on their part. I would like us to raise over a million dollars because you need about two million to run an operation like this."
One area that has already impressed Lecot is the sale of the cookbook.
The group published 6,000 and has already sold 5,000. They are considering printing more to keep up with the demand.
As for the event itself, the IPM is aiming to attract between 15,000-18,000 visitors each day to come see the competition and many of the other attractions. So far, more than 170 local exhibitors have already registered for the event and Lecot says he hopes that they can get somewhere between 400-500 exhibitors once all have registered. They will be vending everything from cars to food. Some of the big attractions outside of the competition are the Country Living expo, Tent City and a 25-acre Antique Park.
As for the competition itself, Lecot believes that there will be upwards of 150 plowmen in the field for the 95th edition of the competition, in a number of categories, including over 40 teams of horses.
One of the potential concerns with hosting an event with this many participants are the accommodations, but Lecot says it hasn’t really been an issue. "So far we have more than 1,000 people registered for our RV Park. In addition, we worked with NAV Canada to create a booklet with all lodgeing locations in the area. The book has been very handy we have distributed it and I have not herd any concerns."
The booklet outlines all locations in certain radiuses. The first radius is within 25- kilometers of the event and the booklet outlines three more with the fourth being 100 kilometers from the event.
The organizers know that there is still a lot of work to be done but feel that they are heading in the right direction. "Right now we have lots of energy. There is a great amount of teamwork going into the preparations for the event. We have received a lot of support and feel that we are on track."