Over 71,000 visitors attended the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo during its five-day return to Bruce County.
Organizers reported that the final attendance for the event, held just west of Walkerton from September 22 to 26, was 71,300. This total aligns with recent International Plowing Matches.
However, this turnout fell short of some expectations leading up to this year’s match.
Local committee chair Gord Lang told CKNX News in the week before the event that they were hoping for more than 100,000 attendees. Bruce County’s long-term budget plans had estimated around 80,000 participants.
This event celebrated 50 years since Bruce County first hosted the International Plowing Match in 1976 and returned to the same area west of Walkerton where matches took place in both 1976 and 1993.
Attendance at those earlier events in Bruce County was much higher. Nearly 200,000 people attended in 1976, while the match in 1993 brought in 150,149 visitors. When it returned to Bruce County near Teeswater in 2008, there were also a significant number of attendees with about 94,500 passing through the gates.
The Ontario Plowmen’s Association organized four days of competitive tractor and horse plowing followed by a junior competition on Saturday.
The opening day attracted thousands of guests along with provincial political leaders including Premier Doug Ford to the site near Walkerton.
The upcoming event in 2026 will mark the fourth time Bruce County has hosted the International Plowing Match.
Next year’s match will take place in Lambton County, scheduled for September 21 to 25 near Petrolia for the event in 2027.
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