Plans for the 2018 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM) are well underway.
Co-chair Leon Leclair says the committee has met with the Ontario Plowmen's Association (OPA) and have been given the "okay" by them.
"The OPA is attending our monthly meetings and they're telling us we're up to speed," says Leclair. "So that's fantastic news!"
The 2018 committee was also recently invited to sit in on an all-chairs meeting hosted by the 2017 IPM committee. Leclair says this presented itself as a great opportunity to which they can learn the do's and don'ts for hosting this type of event.
"We're going to hopefully learn from their shortcomings," he says. "We can [then] bring that to our team and say 'here's the situation that's probably going to arise, here's what we need to do to mitigate it.'"
As for volunteers, Leclair says around 300 people have offered to help, but are asking why they haven't been called upon just yet.
"We can't use everybody yet," he says. "There's not a lot of people needed for the pre-planning but come parking, putting up signs, fences, and such, that's when the numbers are going to be needed more."
Leclair adds it's not just local residents who are willing to help out. He says local businesses have lent a hand to help in different ways, one of which includes promoting the event.
The official promotion vehicles will be unveiled to local media in Chatham on Wednesday.
