There is one every year, but it is a big deal when one comes to your area.
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The International Plowing Match and Rural Expo comes to Chatham-Kent in 2018 and the call is out for volunteers.
Before that it stops in the Cornwall area, Wellington and Huron Counties and we are pretty sure that if you are within range of those areas there will be chances to get involved as well.
The events of course, are huge showcases for the area, upwards of 100,000 people will visit, and many more will pay a little bit of peripheral attention.
But being involved can also be fun. No you don't have to know how to drive a tractor, although if you do, that's a skill that will be in some demand.
The words Rural Expo are part of the Plowing Match title because that is what it is. a celebration of the food, wine, craft beer and sports and other attractions of the area are all part of the IPM.
In Chatham-Kent the long term planning and building the infrastructure of committees is well underway, so if you want to help build the match now is the time to raise your hand.
If you prefer a shorter term commitment there will be opportunity as we get closer.
Of course in Chatham-Kent we know we can rise to the challenge.
It has been done before it will again.
The call will eventually be out for a bit more than a thousand volunteers, or about the same number that drove in the Dresden Guinness World Record Tractor Parade a few years ago.
That makes it seem very doable.
It is interesting to watch the development from day one, the day the Chatham-Kent Plowmen's Association announced a bid for the match, and seeing some people step forward.
If you are curious but a little shy about stepping forward because you aren't sure what it is all about, some volunteers have already said, they didn't know anything about an IPM, but they have skills that are of value and they want to help. So don't be shy.
Committee chairs of course will be attending the 2016 and 2017 events as part of the promotion for Chatham-Kent and many representatives are making plans to attend this year's as well.
Plowing Match organizers, I am assured work as teams. Those from past years offer support and advice to organizers of upcoming events, and everyone supports the current match of the current year.
So best of luck to the organizers of the 2015, 16, and 17 match. Perhaps some people listening to this, on the radio or on the web, will take the opportunity to attend one or all of them. Perhaps some are already planning to volunteer, or have already made the commitment.
If you have, that's great, if you are thinking about it, check out, what it is all about.
It's been a few years since I last had the chance to visit an IPM but it was a blast and I am looking forward to at least day trips and maybe a little more, to some of the upcoming ones.
As for the Chatham-Kent match. Those days are marked off on my calendar already. There will be, no doubt some work, some frustration, but surely too, some exhilaration .
It will be rewarding, we hope on both a personal level and for the entire community. For the community we hope those rewards are both emotional and financial.
So, I'll see you in September at the IPM.
