Lucille and Jean Marie Laprise, along with IPM 2018 mascot Tobe Cobe Jr., 
during an donation night on June 13, 2019 at the banquet hall of the Ken Houston Memorial Agricultural Centre in Dresden.  The couple lent the CK community their farmland for the 2018 IPM. Photo courtesy of the IPM 2018 Media Committee)Lucille and Jean Marie Laprise, along with IPM 2018 mascot Tobe Cobe Jr., during an donation night on June 13, 2019 at the banquet hall of the Ken Houston Memorial Agricultural Centre in Dresden. The couple lent the CK community their farmland for the 2018 IPM. Photo courtesy of the IPM 2018 Media Committee)
Chatham

IPM puts money back into the CK community

After bringing the community together for the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo in 2018, organizers of the event are giving back to Chatham-Kent.

More than $80,000 was donated to over 70 local charities, service clubs and not-for-profit organizations across the municipality Thursday night during a presentation ceremony called "Filling the Furrow".  The ceremony was held at the Ken Houston Memorial Agricultural Centre in Dresden and a total of 115 cheques were presented.  When added together with the money raised by local service club members at the IPM, the value of donations to the community is more than $105,000.

“IPM 2018 brought our community together to showcase Chatham-Kent to the world," said Leon Leclair, IPM 2018 co-chair. “This was done with the commitment and hard work of so many people, and it is very satisfying to be able to recognize that spirit with these donations to non-profit organizations. These funds will help their ongoing work in the community.”

The donations mark the first round of funds generated by the 2018 IPM, which was hosted by the Ontario Plowmen’s Association and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent with a Chatham-Kent citizens’ Executive Committee last September near Pain Court. More than 70,000 people attended the event's plowing competitions and cultural performances, along with its agriculture, business and tourism displays.

"The hard work of so many people will be manifested in this round of donations - and this will make a real difference to many local organizations," said Leclair.

The organizers of the IPM were able to pay back a loan from the municipality before the event began, and any extra services were paid for by the plowing match at no cost to local taxpayers.

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