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Friday, 24 July 2009 |
 Wapakoneta farmer Tom Fischer competes in a plowing competition while aboard an antique tractor. The Ohio State Plowing Matches return to Wapakoneta on Saturday, the first time since 2000. More than 35 tractor drivers are to compete in the event, with hopes of moving on to the national competition in South Dakota in August. Photo provided By MATT NICHOLS
Staff Writer
For more than 50 years, man and machine has been pitted against the soil in the spirit of friendly, yet heated competition.
On Saturday, that spirit will return to a barren field north of Wapakoneta, as the city again hosts the Ohio State Plowing Matches.
More than 35 tractors will pepper the landscape at Mike Schaub’s 17666 Wapakoneta-Cridersville Road farm on Saturday to compete for the title of best Ohio plower.
Event organizer and competitor Tom Fischer said competitors from approximately eight Ohio counties will converge on the old Wapakoneta Airport grounds to compete for the opportunity to move on to the national competition on Aug. 15, in Yankton, S.D.
The event is sponsored by Buckeye Farm Antiques, Auglaize County Farm Bureau, Industrial Management and Engi-
neering and Joseph Owen, Auctioneer.
Tractors are split into four different classes, Fischer said. An open class allows any equipment except for competition plows.
The small class is a more advanced class, allowing greater freedom in equipment, including competition plows.
One class allows reversible plows, and an antique class requires a tractor and plow to be built before 1938.
Of the 35 tractors, 20 are to be entered in the open class, and just one is entered in the reversible.
“The one guy we have plowing the reversible is already qualified for nationals, so he’s just here for exhibition so folks can see how it’s done,” Fischer said.
There will also be two 18-and-under classes competing as well as garden tractor plowing.
Fischer said the competitors are judged on seven different factors, all totaling 200 points.
Those competing will work over a quarter acre plot with their machinery and will be judged on their efforts. Factors like straightness of lines and furrows will be considered as well as how well the ground is turned over and how well trash is buried.
“Everything needs to be straight and neat,” Fischer said.
This is the first time Wapakoneta has held the Ohio contest since 2000, and every time it does, Fischer said everyone enjoys the sites and sounds.
“People just have a good time with this,” Fischer said. “A lot of the same guys do this every year, so you see the same people. It turns into a real friendly thing.”
One of those perennial favorites is Fischer, who won the antique class at nationals four times. It was enough victories that he is no longer allowed to take part in the antique class.
“They made me move up,” Fischer said laughing. “I had to go up to a more competitive class, but it’s good. It’s challenging.”
The public is invited to attend the event which is slated to begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 27 July 2009 )
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