The 2017 International Plowing Match (IPM) and Rural Expo near Walton is less than two weeks away, and the mayor of Huron East expects the Match will provide a huge economic boost for the municipality.
Bernie MacLellan says anytime a community of less than 10,000 people is expecting 100,000 guests for almost a week, the impact is going to be significant.
MacLellan points out a lot of people consider this their vacation. They park in the RV section and stay for the week and while they're here they visit neighbouring communities, shop in local stores and eat at local restaurants, so that all contributes to the economic impact of the IPM.
The IPM opens on Tuesday, September 19 and continues until Saturday, September 23.
"It's definitely going to have an impact," says MacLellan. "I don't know who's going to measure it or how you could even measure the entire thing and I'm sure it'll go on for quite a bit after the event itself. There's certainly people that come and this is their vacation, they come for the whole week so it's certainly good for the area."
