September 24, 2026
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The Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band was front and centre during the Bruce Power opening-day parade at the Bruce County International Plowing Match (IPM) and Rural Expo, Tuesday morning.
The event is being held on the farm of Tony and Elaine Lang, just west of Walkerton, and continues through tomorrow and Saturday.
This is the 50th anniversary of the first time the IPM was held in Bruce County, on the same site, back in 1976.
The tented city sits on about 150 acres of property, with the main stage, quilt tent, lifestyle tent, education tent, vintage tractors and farm equipment, and much more.
The IPM features more than 500 exhibitors, as well as numerous performances (including the Team Farmall Square-Dancing Tractors) and presentations, and is expected to draw about 100,000 visitors over the five days.
Tuesday, the weather was chilly but sunny and that great weather was expected to continue all week.
The opening ceremonies featured an excessive number of speakers, including Ontario premier Doug Ford, Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb and MPP Lisa Thompson, and James Scongack of Bruce Power.
Ford said it's great to be back at the IPM, and thanked all the organizers and volunteers for hosting this event, and all the sponsors for their support of it.
"You're salt-of-the-earth people," he said. "The agricultural industry puts $52-billion into our GDP (Gross Domestic Product). Thank you for all your hard work. God Bless the people of Ontario."
"Welcome to the Bruce," shouted Thompson. "We're so proud of the 1,600 volunteers and all the organizers for putting on this amazing show! Take the time to check out everything on the site. The businesses, industries and communities represented here are second to none. There is much to experience and enjoy. Let's celebrate the best of rural Ontario!"
Scongack said he is proud to be part of this community and offered praise to everyone who helped put the IPM together.
"In Bruce County, we work together and support each other," he said. "I have a shirt that says 'Farmer Smart, not Harvard Smart'. We are respectful and supportive of the agricultural community and we have their back."
Lobb commended the organizers and volunteers for putting together a truly remarkable event over the five days. "It's great to see young and old, alike, here at the IPM, learning about agriculture. Some have never seen a farm before!"
The entertainment continued with "On Q," a barbershop quartet based in Walkerton, featuring Byron Ballagh, Dave Gresler, Kerry Withrow and Werner Uhlig, who also sang "O Canada" at the opening.
The Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band marches in the Bruce Power Parade at the opening of the Bruce County International Plowing Match, Tuesday morning
Written ByLiz Dadson is the founder and editor of the Kincardine Record and has been in the news business since 1986.
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