The tall corn in Essa Township is about to reveal a secret that the farming community is only too proud to tell.
From September 16th- 20th Simcoe County is home to the International Plowing Match (IPM).
“We're looking to have 80 to 100-thousand people come into our community here and have a great impact on the city of Barrie with local businesses' benefiting,” said Cal Madill, chair of the IPM.
The event takes place at the 20th Side road and 10th Line of Essa across from the Barrie Agriplex.
Hundreds of international competitors will travel to compete in plowing competitions that have been going on for more than 100 years.
“It is an honour, it's the Olympics of farming and people enjoy it,” says competitor, Barry Degeers.
Hundreds of volunteers like Bob Vernon are on board.
“It's something that I wanted to be a part of so it's very exciting.”
Over the last few days hydro poles have been put up on the site as the emergence of a tent city takes place - soon to be housed by vendors and displays.
Terry Arnold, chair of tent city says it’s evolving.
“Every day there's something different it grows every day.”
Terry Arnold is one of the hundreds of volunteers organizing the event. The profits from which are pumped back into local community charitable organizations. Arnold says he has fond memories of when the international plowing match was here last in 1997.
“Our farm was used as one of the farms and that's why I'm back doing this, it's just like coming back home.”
For one week in September the focus of international plowers everywhere is on Essa Township. And for one week in September - possibly the first time in it's history - the population of the tiny hamlet of Ivy in Essa Township swells from 59 people to 1059 people.
