NAVAN-If there’s one aspect veterans stress about the 2001 Queen of the Furrow Contest at Rural Expo 2001, "it is not a beauty pageant."
These were the words of Allison Kelly-Quesnel, chair of the 2001 Queen of the Furrow Contest, as she described the competition’s requirements. It is also not simply a ladies’ plowing contest, but it is a competition involving a wide array of sophisticated skills, including the knowledge of agriculture and the art of public communication.
And as the 1991-1992 Ottawa-Carleton Queen of the Furrow, and one of 30 contestants in the 1992 IPM Queen of the Furrow Contest in Victoria County, Kelly-Quesnel learned something else about competitive plowing matches. "They can be a lot of fun."
"I met new friends, and I have kept in contact with some of the queens for years. You meet the directors and get to know what the Ontario Plowmen’s Association is about. You are treated as someone special and even if you don’t win, everyone gets lots of gifts," she said.
A hopeful competitor in this year’s IPM Queen of the Furrow Contest, Lara Tanner had her first experience plowing with a tractor during last September’s Ottawa-Carleton Plowing Match in Navan, and found it quite difficult, but as the only competitor was acclaimed Ottawa-Carleton Queen of the Furrow.
Although that was challenging, she found another initial plowing experience, at this year’s celebrity horse plow at the Cumberland Heritage Museum Day, "really hard. I don’t know how they do it." Among the new acquaintances she made were fellow competitors Jim Waton, former Mayor of Ottawa, Agriculture Minister Brian Coburn, Cumberland City councillor Phil McNeely, and IPM chair Jennifer Waldroff.
Tanner said being queen has allowed her to meet some "really nice people" and she plans to continue her plowing career.
A veteran of both local and international plowing matches, Jennifer Waldroff said she didn’t find the plowing too onerous at the IPM Queen of the Furrow contests.
"At the IPM we made speeches, had interviews and did plowing. But the competition was a lot stiffer than at local competitions. The rest of the time we had fun," she said.
Waldroff got off to an early start with competitive plowing at the Ottawa-Carleton match in 1983, and as an 11-year-old and went on to vie with the 11- to 15-age group at the IPM that year in Richmond. Later she tried her skills in four or five international competitions including Wellington County in 1984, Elgin in 1985 and Hastings County in 1986. Twice a winner of the Ottawa-Carleton Queen of the Furrow match - in 1986 and 1989 - she represented Ottawa-Carleton at the IPM in Grey County in 1987 and in Brant County in 1990. Waldroff still enjoys plowing and likes to compete in local competitions.
This year’s contest
This year, on Monday evening September 17, 30 Queen of the Furrow winners from local plowing matches around the province will descend on the nation’s capital to join in the Ontario Queen of the Furrow Plowing Match. The contestants come from areas as diverse as Lanark, Elgin, Renfrew, Wolfe Island, Waterloo and Ottawa-Carleton. The competition is open to young women aged 16 to 24 although most are in their late teens, and quite a few are from Western Ontario.
On Tuesday morning the girls will participate in the official opening parade, and in opening ceremonies, and during the afternoon will tour Ottawa and visit Rideau Hall, home of the Governor General. The women will meet the Ontario judges, including Carolyn Styles, a past Ottawa Carleton Dairy Queen, and two judges appointed by the Ontario Plowmen’s Association, Ken Keyes, former chair of the Kingston Plowing Match, and Carol Armstrong from western Ontario.
On Wednesday morning, the contestants will be interviewed at the hotel by the three judges on their knowledge of agriculture and of the Ontario Plowmen’s Association.
During the afternoon, the participants start plowing at a small plot on the special events site, each wearing the sash and crown representing her county plowman’s association. "Participants do the opening crown and a few rounds, and each brings
her own plow and tractor," said Kelly-Quesnel.
Thursday morning, the contestants introduce themselves on stage in the Lifestyles tent, and model fleece vests and coats by Mark’s Work Wear House, an Ottawa-based company and sponsor.
On Thursday afternoon, they take to the Canada Square stage, where each speaks for two to three minutes on a topic of their choosing.
"Most choose agricultural topics like farm safety or the family farm and the girls are judged on those speeches," she added. The 2001 Queen of the Furrow Amy Holmes introduces the contestants and acts as Master of Ceremonies.
"The girls are judged on their interviews, how they present themselves on stage, and the level of professionalism in their public speaking, based on content, visual contact and delivery. The interviews are judged based on their knowledge and depth of response, and the rapport they have with the judges. We tend to highlight experiences each queen has," she said.
The five finalists proceed to the crowning banquet Thursday evening at the R.J. Kennedy Memorial Centre in Cumberland, sponsored by Home Hardware.
Here they respond to impromptu questions, and are judged on their information, their ability to "think on their feet" and generate excitement through their speaking.
The grand winner is crowned the Ontario Queen of the Furrow, and Miss Plow is named as the top plowing contestant and Miss Friendship is voted on by her peers.
The five finalists win bursaries from sponsors, and the top three receive special awards, including a vehicle presented by the Toronto Dominion Bank to the Ontario Queen.
As an employee of the Ontario Plowmen’s Association, the Ontario Queen has use of the car for a year on official duties and personal use.
Her duties include promoting the International Plowing Match, attending local plowing matches and fairs, and agricultural shows all over the province as well as conducting agriculture education sessions in schools.
Kelly-Quesnel stressed everyone is welcome to view the open parts of the competition including the plowing competition, "which is usually tons of fun."
Tickets for the banquet may be purchased from Queen of the Furrow Committee members at $20.
From the Archives:
IPM 2001, September 2001
