Frontenac County Plowing Match at Sonset Farm

Jeff Green | Aug 30, 2019

Agriculture has been the cornerstone of Frontenac County’s economic and cultural life since before the county was even founded 152 years ago.

Farm communities sprang up to support families who cleared land, planted crops and raised animals. Fall fairs, church suppers, and plowing matches were major opportunities to meet neighbours and compete in friendly competitions.

The horse pull at the Parham Fair is one competition that has those kinds of roots in Central Frontenac. The Frontenac County Plowing Match, which has been held annually for over 100 years, has played a major role in unifying the farming communities in South Frontenac.

While agriculture continues to be the largest industry in South Frontenac, proximity to Kingston and the beauty of the countryside has drawn more people to live in the township and make their living in the City.

Attendance at the plowing match, and at the vendor fair on the grounds, has waned in recent years, and the volunteer base has faced challenges as well. This year, however, there is some new energy at the match, and a partnership with a new event on the scene that is all about the changing face of Frontenac County Agriculture, the second annual Open Farms.

Rebecca Pemberton lives in Kingston now, but she was raised on a farm on Wolfe Island and has competed in plowing matches ever since her father taught her how to operate a tractor when she was a kid. She has joined the board for the Frontenac Plowing Match this year.

“I’ve been impressed by the amount of work and commitment of the board members,” she said. “We meet all year round to organise the match. What I am hoping for this year is that we can increase the attendance, which has been down over the last couple of years, and draw more participants and vendors.”

The Frontenac County Economic Development Department came up with the idea of connecting the plowing match with its fall Open Farms event. The match is being held this year at Sonset Farms, which is one of ten locations at Open Farms 2019.

Open Farms 2018 was a celebration of some of the innovative farming practices in Frontenac County, including direct marketing to consumers and unique products such as farm-sum at Open Road Ecological farms, the integrated farming techniques and Irish Dexter cattle at Maple Ridge Farms, and the educational and tourism focus of Five Star Farm, to name just three.

Sonset Farms is an ideal location for the plowing match because it bridges the gap between the farming traditions in Frontenac County and the new innovators that have come on the scene more recently. The land has been farmed by he same family for 75 years.  Orry and Andrea Cumpson transitioned the farm to organic production, achieving certified organic designation in 1996 and joining the Organic Meadow Co-operative in 2001. They still work the farm, with Charlie and Hailey, the next generation. In addition to raising pigs, cattle and chickens, they grow and mill spelt on the property.

“We are hoping to attract a good number of competitors to the match. The 4H club is participating so we will have a good number of young competitors and we have been able to bring a number of vendors this year,” said Rebecca Pemberton.

Some of the local farmers will be displaying equipment at the match, and businesses such as Revell Ford are participating. The National Farmers Union, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, as well as the South Frontenac Fire Department will have information booths, and the 4-H club will host a livestock display.

Among the 15 vendors who have signed up thus far are the Pampered Chef, Shay’s Creation Jewellery, and North Shore Cabin Fashion. And there will be activities for kids as well.

“With all that we have organised this year, and by joining forces with Open Farms, we feel we can bring the plowing match to the good old days, when it was a two-day event that everyone went to,” she said.

Sonset Farms is located at 4403 Latimer Road, just west of Inverary. Open Farms runs from 10am-5pm on Sunday, September 8.