The Chatham-Kent Plowmen's Association has plenty to celebrate and something big to look forward to Saturday.
President Brian Sterling says their 80th annual Chatham-Kent Plowing Match starts at 10am at Buis Beef Ranch on Seventh Line with horses, antiques, and modern equipment all taking part.
"The horses will be a big attraction, it's something different that you don't always see," says Sterling. "There's something that will attract anybody from rural or urban areas and that's our intent with it this year."
Sterling says they'll have one or two competitors coming out who are trained to compete with horses and will plow a full plot of land with their team.
"This is the kind of stuff that used to be done years and years ago, so to still be able to see that going on is a tradition that we'd like to see continue," says Sterling.
But while they're celebrating a milestone anniversary, the plowing match also serves as a reminder of a big event that is coming up in just a couple years' time.
"We're trying as a local association to build things up for the International Plowing Match that will take place in Chatham-Kent," says Sterling. "I guess you could say it'll be a small sneak peek of what you could see on a larger scale in 2018."
The plowing competition featuring horses, antiques, and modern equipment is set to take place from approximately 10am - 2pm. That'll be followed by a Queen of the Furrow competition at 2pm and an awards banquet at 5pm at Moose Lodge in Chatham.
