Some preliminary work is underway for the 2026 International Plowing Match, set to be hosted in Bruce County.
Volunteers are now being sought for the Sept. 22-26, 2026 event in Walkerton, and the executive team is also looking for proposals for a logo and slogan.
“It takes about 1,500 volunteers to run an event of this magnitude. This is kind of the first shot. We want to get people excited,” says 2026 International Plowing Match executive committee member and media spokesperson Bill Walker, former MPP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound.
Local farmer, businessman and entrepreneur Gord Lang has been named chair of the 2026 International Plowing Match. It’ll be the fourth time Bruce County hosts the annual celebration of agriculture and rural living, and will come as the Bruce County Plowmen’s Association marks its 50th anniversary.
Walker says the executive team has started to meet to put together the program for the event. He says it will feature displays of various tractors and farm machinery, a market and many other displays to showcase “rural and farming life.”
“It’s just a great celebration. There’s lots of entertainment. And there’s even a camping area … many, many people travel and make it a week-long adventure,” Walker says.
He says anyone who is interested in volunteering can send an email to brucecountyipm@gmail.com. That same email can be contacted for those submitting proposals for the logo and slogan search being undertaken by the IPM 2026 executive committee. The deadline to submit a logo or slogan idea is July 1.
