A year after the International Plowing Match hit Pain Court, a local rodeo drill team is representing Chatham-Kent in Northeastern Ontario.
The Canadian Cowgirls Precision Drill Team was formed 16 years ago and have participated in 12 International Plowing Matches (IPM). In 2018, they got to perform in front of plenty of familiar faces when the IPM took place in Chatham-Kent.
This year the IPM is happening in Verner, Ontario from September 17 to 21 and the Canadian Cowgirls are back in the saddle as one of the main entertainment acts.
"The Canadian Cowgirls are performing every day, twice [a day]. A show in the morning and a show in the afternoon," said Terry Jenkins, the owner of T J Stables in Chatham and founder of the local team. "We're very delighted to be one of the featured entertainments while people visit the IPM."
Jenkins said they've been met with enthusiastic crowds in Verner and are having the time of their lives representing Chatham-Kent.
"At home, of course, we knew everybody and we were performing for our hometown crowd and that was very gratifying and we truly enjoyed it," she said. "Up here we're bringing our show to an entirely new audience. [Tuesday] was opening day and we had standing room only in the bleachers."
Although they are over six hours away from home, Jenkins said they have seen some familiar faces.
"The girls took their horses through the RV Park and there's a lot of people from our local community that follow the IPM wherever it goes," said Jenkins. "Many say they've been coming for 10 to 15 years and they're from our local area. What's really fun is the fact that you're meeting people that live on the next concession and you don't see every day, [but] you come here and they're all here."
The Canadian Cowgirls will be posting photos from their trip on their Facebook page.