St. Francis plowing match

In spite of showers and overcast skies forecast for Saturday, the sun combined with a gentle breeze chased away grey skies before breakfast and folks who had been preparing all week took heart, loaded their tractor and plows and headed for the field of competition at the Morin farm near the village of St Felix de Kingsey.

Sixty competitors turned out for the 65th anniversary of the St Francis Plowmen's Association, (Richmond County), including six horse teams and over 30 antique tractors requiring this class to be divided into two. "I've never seen so many spectators come out for this," said Joyce Cinnamon, who with her husband Larry, Secretary Treasurer, teamed up for the paper work . They are a great example of team work on the day of competition as entries and registrations are recorded while Larry Cinnamon and Anthony Wintle walk the field, watch the progress of each competitor and allot points for such things as 'crowns, ins and outs, uniform and level plowing, furrows lying at just the right angle covering grass and of course, the all-important finishing furrow, or ‘trash furrow’ some folks call it.

With a home-cooked dinner offered to competitors and visitors, tours of the field of competition and the gathering of friends and families, this traditional event has proved once again, it's more than just a plowing match. Competitors, families and friends will meet one more time at the awards banquet Friday, Oct. 12 at Salle Ste Famille on Craig st. beginning at 7p.m.

"A big thank you goes out to the entire community who have once again donated generously for the many prizes competitors will receive. We hope to reward every competitor and we've accomplished that for many years thanks to sponsors and contributors," said Joyce Cinnamon. "We have a new executive this year. Sam Wintle is president, Steve Smith, vice-president and Josh Johnston second vice-president. We're very encouraged to have these young people taking the reins as that means the future of this event looks promising. This year we celebrate 65 years of plowing competitions. That's quite a record," Cinnamon concluded.

CLAUDIA VILLEMAIRE Germain Boutin and his grandson (one of his first attempts to keep up to Grandpa) turned fine furrows at Saturday's match. Six teams of horses were on hand for the event, some travelling most of the night. These are died-in-the-cloth plowing competitors who turn up at matches all over the province and sometimes, if things go accordingly, even competing in the provincial and, on occasion, at the National match, a yearly event lasting several days.