Greetings and Salutations Members:
I hope this letter finds each of you well. Spring is finally starting to show up and I know we are all excited. The fresh smell of God's good earth as it is turned over by a plow and the sight of green plants growing again is always something I long for after months of cold and snow.
Your IPA board members met on February 12th to discuss the upcoming year. We are having discussions with several different groups regarding their hosting state matches either this year or in the future. The current state of crop prices makes it difficult for farmers to justify giving up good black Iowa soil for plowing competition. We'll keep you informed as to when and where our Iowa plow matches occur.
The Iowa Plowing Association held its annual plowmen's banquet at Smokin G's Barbeque in Marshalltown on March 12th• We enjoyed seeing each other again and discussed the following items.
Potential State Plowing Sites
• The Threashermen's Show in Albert City, Iowa. The Threashermen's has expressed great interest in having state plowing matches at their show. Unfortunately, the way they plan to use their show site this year does not provide enough room for our competition. We are hoping that plans can be made for 2023 or 2024.
• Antique Acres, just north of Cedar Falls, has hosted us in previous years and we'll see if they would like to have us be a part of their show this year. We'll be giving them a call shortly.
• The Big Rock Plowing group is thinking about having us plow with them but again, probably not this year. They would need to plan for more acres to plow. Their show is in Illinois but there are no stipulations that we have to hold state matches in Iowa. We'll see what happens in the future.
• If all else fails, we may choose to hold off until fall, after the beans are out. This would be less impactful to the sponsor/farmer providing the land, as they won't have to reduce their acres planted to corn or beans.
• Mike Fitz is contacting a person south of Newton to see if he would like to host our competition during his annual fall plow day.
• Belmond, IA is also a possibility, but it is not sounding very promising. They requested a large sum of money to host our show and I don't see us doing that.
In 2022, we are going to add bonus points to the score sheet for "The Dead Furrow". As mentioned in the fall newsletter, a number of contestants are leaving dead furrows way to deep and way to wide. Previous score sheets provide 10 points for a combination of narrow, shallow and clean. New score sheets provide 10 points for each of these criteria so there are now 70 total points available for a proper finish!!! That's worth a little extra practice and effort, don't you
agree? I have been witness to many plowing matches where only a few points separate the top four plowmen. Practice those finishes plowmen!
We are changing the plowing classes a little bit this year. Antique and open class remains unchanged. The Small Plow Class is changing with regards to the type of plows used and we added a new Kverneland class to our lineup.
The small plow class will maintain a larger plot, opening split and 2:40 min time limit. This class will now host both trailer and mounted plows that are non-Kverneland. The plows may be of any age, trip or hydraulic and blacksmith or high-speed shares. Give it a try! You traveled a long distance for the opportunity to plow, why not plow a little longer! To the best of my knowledge, this will be a one-day plow competition at both state and national matches.
The new Kverneland Class will consist of competition style mounted plows, consistent with World Plowing Organization standards. This competition will determine who represents the USA at the World Plowing Matches each year. The Kverneland style plows are the only accepted equipment allowed at the World matches, so this makes perfect sense. The plot size remains the same, as do the opening split and time limit. This will be a one-day match at our state matches and a two day cumulative score competition at the national matches.
Safety
I mentioned in last fall's newsletter that a few issues of safety came up during the National Plowing Matches held in Iowa. I've not witnessed any of the infractions that I've heard about, but we discussed them at the board meeting and the banquet. Be safe in all that you do. There is no doubt that farming and farm equipment has claimed the lives of more good people than you can count. We honestly desire to see each of you perform well and return year after year. If we take note of plowmen making serious errors in judgment during practice or competition, we will first discuss it with you and expect it to stop. If it continues, we may disqualify you. This mainly includes riding on anything other than the seat of their tractor or carrying passengers on tractors designed for one person. We understand that many of the older tractors can be driven by sitting in the seat or standing on the platform, but the operator is the only person that should be on there.
Coaching should be completed by the time a senior plowman enters the competition plot. Juniors are an exception and coaching during the match is expected. If you are plowing in the regular classes, you should already know how to set the plow, adjust the plow and make plans for a good finish. It doesn't always work out the way we plan but that's the name of the game. Officially, no one but the plowman should even touch the plow during a competition. We let a few little things slide, especially when one of members/friends is having problems. Physical assistance with clearing a plugged plow or helping replace a broken part are all fine. We expect encourage that to happen among friends. Two-way radios and cell phones, being used to communicate with someone during a competition, are wrong and you will be disqualified. It's just bad etiquette.
It's just a plowing match, not brain surgery.
This year's banquet came with a changing of the guard. Long time plowman and board member, Ray Willhoite, decided to step down from the board this year. Ray has been an anchor in our organization for many years and exemplified the qualities of a true plowman and sportsman.
Ray, we reserve the right to call on your expertise from time to time. Right?
With Ray's blessing and a unanimous vote, we installed Nick Olinger as our new board member. We are excited to have another champion plowman sitting on the board. Nick is a great plowman and holds an impressive number of 1stplace trophies from both Iowa and national plow matches. We are glad to have you on board Nick. New guy buys dinner next time!
After lunch, we held a short board meeting to see if any new items needed our attention. Dick Pedersen thought a 4th officer would be good, so he made a motion to accept Chad Adelmund as Vice President with Mike Fitz continuing as our USAPO board member. Lyle Grimm provided a second and the motion carried. Congratulations Chad! Your input has been great, and we look forward to working with you as VP.
Quick Note: I hope you, the Iowa Plowing Association members, know what a great group of board members we have. You and I are blessed to have these people on the board.
Brianna Williams provided the treasurers report for 2021 and beginning balance for 2022. We came out pretty well with our National Plowing Competition and Marshal County Ag Expo. We raised $12,900 from Sponsors and spent $14,900 on the show. Simple math says we spent $2,000 of our own money, which is much better than any of us expected when we first talked about holding the Expo. Our sponsors were very happy, and my feeling is that if the opportunity comes around again, they will be happy to sponsor us again. Our beginning balance for 2022 is $7,390.
The 2022 National Plowing Competition will be held in Greenwald, Minnesota. This is just south of Sauk Center, Minnesota. We'll get more details in the weeks to come but as of today, the dates are Aug. 18, 19 and 20. Plowmen's banquet will be on Aug. 18th•
The National matches will be adding the revised small plow competition and new Kverneland class for 2022. Iowa may bring three plowmen, non-qualified by state competition, to participate in the revised small plow class. We have several members that have indicated they would like to travel to the national matches and represent Iowa in this class. Get in touch with any of our board members if you would like to throw your name in for consideration.
Iowa plowmen scheduled for national competition in 2022:
• Nick Olinger (Returning National Champion)
• Dick Opdahl
• Lyle Grimm
• Joel McQueen
• Chad Adelmund
• Justin Adelmund
• Ben Fits
Small Plow (3) Contestants
• Kevin Holl
• Brianna Williams
• (Open to anyone wanting to try it. Call any board member to sign up.)
• Craig Warner
• Mike Fitz
• Ray Elsberry
The World Plowing Organization was to hold this year's competition in Russia. Russia tried several years to make it happen, but COVID prevented it from taking place. Now, Russia is the center of attention with the war in Ukraine and the World Plowing Organization has removed them from World membership. War does not fit into the category of growing peace and friendship. We pray for peace and the safety of the Ukrainian people.
That's about it for the spring newsletter folks. It is my pleasure to serve you this year and we'll keep you up to date with any plans for state matches in 2022. Have an enjoyable and safe spring.
Your President,
<fig.//, l!,he'C."IJ.
Iowa Plowing Association
Ray Elsberry (President) 641-485-4011
Chad Adelmund (Vice President) 641-750-2310 Mike Fitz (USA Board Member) 641-751-9500 Brianna Williams (Treasurer) 641-485-5067 Lyle Grimm (IPA Board Member) 319-541-9132
Nick Olinger (IPA Board Member) 319-325-3846 Dick Pedersen (IPA Board Member) 515-229-0360
State results and newsletter at: iowapa.org/downloads. National results found at: usapo.org/downloads
The 2022 National Plowing Competition will be held in Greenwald, Minnesota. This is just south of Sauk Center, Minnesota. We’ll get more details in the weeks to come but as of today, the dates are Aug.19 and 20. Plowmen’s banquet will be on Aug. 18th.
The National matches will be adding the revised small plow competition and new Kverneland class for 2022. Iowa may bring three plowmen, non-qualified by state competition, to participate in the revised small plow class. We have several members that have indicated they would like to travel to the national matches and represent Iowa in this class. Get in touch with any of our board members if you would like to throw your name in for consideration.
Iowa plowmen scheduled for national competition in 2022: Antique Class (4) Contestants Nick Olinger (Returning National Champion) Dick Opthal Lyle Grimm Joel McQueen Open Class (3) Contestants Chad Adelmund Justin Adelmund Ben Fits Small Plow (3) Contestants Kevin Holl Brianna Williams (Open to anyone wanting to try it. Call any board member to sign up.) Kverneland Class (3) Contestants Craig Warner Mike Fitz Ray Elsberry
World Plowing Organization The World Plowing Organization was to hold this year’s competition in Russia. Russia tried several years to make it happen but COVID prevented it from taking place. Now, Russia is the center of attention with the war in Ukraine and the World Plowing Organization has removed them from World membership. War does not fit into the category of growing peace and friendship. We pray for peace and the safety of the Ukrainian people.
1st D. Opdahl
2nd L. Grimm
3rd N. Olinger
Junior Division
1st T. Iburg
1st C. Adlemund
2nd D. Opdahl
3rd B. Fitz
1st R. Elsberry
2nd M. Fitz
3rd C. Warner
Iowa Plowing Hall of Fame program on downloads page.
World Results on Downloads page along with National information.
Membership
Dues: $25.00 Make checks payable to: IPA
Send to: Brianna Williams
906 SW 2nd St. Pl
Ankeny, IA 50023
Copyright © 2017 iowap.org - All Rights Reserved.