The biggest show of the year for the farming and agricultural sector is the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo, September 17-21.

After Verner won the big to host the show in 2016, there's been a lot of planning gone into prepping an 800 acre field.

"We’ve been working on this for probably the better of two and a half years," said IPM Chair Neil Fox.

The mayor of West Nipissing says all the hard work will pay off.

"It's an opportunity to showcase who we are, where we are and to showcase to the outside world the jewel of West Nipissing, and all of Ontario. It's an opportunity to welcome many people in our backyard," said Joanne Savage, West Nipissing Mayor.

Those involved say there will be something for everyone.

"We've got the Canadian cowgirls which is a performance riding team. They perform every day. We've got the lumberjack competition, the royal Canadian Airforce performance, skydiving, the sky hawks… all kinds of different initiatives on the education tent for people to learn about agriculture and its importance to the local economy," said Fox.  

Over the past ten decades, the IPM has grown substantially, but one thing has never changed.

"It started as an international plowing match, and we still do have plowing. It's an art, it's a hobby, but it's an art. Plowing competition consists of around 60-80 on tractor plowmen as well as 20-30 horse plowmen, and that takes place every day. There are tractor competitors, and there are bourse competitors and they plow for prizes at the end," said Sheila Marshall, International Plowmen's Association President.

The province of Ontario also announced new funding from the Ontario Heritage Fund, which will contribute to the match.

"$240 thousand dollars for the plowing match, in addition to the $250 thousand dollars from Celebrate Ontario. The $240 thousand dollar is for the infrastructure for the roads, bleachers, culverts, and $15 thousand dollars for marketing and accessibility," Said Ontario Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli.

Organizers say they are expecting anywhere from 50-90 thousand people throughout the five days.