Canadian Plowing Championships Aug. 14 to 16 near London, Ontario

The Canadian Plowing Championships will take place Aug. 14-16 a few concession roads east of London, at Purple Hill Farm and is expected to draw some of the best attractions of old-time farming roots: horse-drawn plows, spinning and weaving demonstrations and threshing machinery.

But it's not intended to be just a blast from the region's agricultural past, said CanPlow organizer Donna Telfer of Paris, Ont.

“We want to make this a into a real attraction, far bigger than it has ever been,” Telfer said. “That is why we are making a special effort to attract a group of exhibits that will help educate urban folks about the importance of the farm community in producing the locally-grown fresh food that is so much in demand by urban shoppers,” as well as other exhibits showcasing the best of the attractions within an easy drive of Southwestern Ontario residents.

Unlike the International Plowing Match, a rural expo that features plowing as well as some of the shiniest technology available, CanPlow is a more intimate event.

It will take place at the century homestead of George Taylor, six kilometres east of London International Airport, at Purple Hill Farm and at two adjacent farms.

CanPlow 2014:

Aug. 14-16, 8:30 a.m.

--Purple Hill Farms; 20903 Purple Hill Road, 10 km. east of London (north of Hwy 2)

admission $5, children admitted free (more info: 1-877-464-1200 (toll free).

– horse-drawn and tractor-drawn plowing competitions with contestants from four provinces: British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick; local food expo; spinning/weaving demonstrations; old-time clog dancing; antique tractor display and thresher demonstrations; Victoria-era lingerie display; genealogy display with tips for tracking family histories; chain-saw sculpture.