By: Michael Bennett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Ridgetown Independent News
The 89th annual Chatham-Kent Plowing Match is over four months away, but it’s not too early for young ladies to start thinking about donning the Queen and Princess of the Furrow crowns.
A new Queen and Princess will be crowned at the 2026 Plowing Match, which is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 8, at the J&E Meats property near Croton.
Lauren Ross, of Dresden, is completing the second of her two-year reign as Queen of the Furrow, as the winner holds the position for two years.
Isabelle Beer, of Highgate, was crowned the 2025 Princess of the Furrow, which is a one-year term.
As representatives of the Chatham-Kent Plowmen’s Association, the Princess and Queen of the Furrow both participate in a number of activities during their reigns, such as local fairs, farm shows, school visits and 4-H events.
The Queen also represents Chatham-Kent and the CKPA at the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo.
Ross represented Chatham-Kent at the 2025 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo in West Lincoln and the 2024 event in Kawartha Lakes.
The 2026 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo will be in Walkerton on Sept. 22-26.
Applications for the 2026 Queen and Princess of the Furrow are now being accepted.
The Queen of the Furrow program was designed for young ladies aged 17-23, as of Jan. 1, 2026. The Queen is judged on her poise and personality as well as three competition components.
The Princess program is designed for young ladies ages 11-16, as of Jan. 1, 2026, to provide an opportunity to be a representative of the community and an ambassador for agriculture.
All Queen and Princess candidates will compete for the crowns during the Chatham-Kent Plowing Match on Aug. 8.
The candidates for the title of Queen will give a two-to-three-minute speech on agriculture, interview with a panel of judges, and plow a parcel of land, with equipment and a coach provided during the Plowing Match.
The Princess candidates will make a one-to-two-minute speech and be interviewed by a panel of judges.
Pre-registration is required, and there is no entrance fee. Application forms are available on the CK Plowman’s Association Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ckplowing/ and scrolling down to the ‘Chatham-Kent Queen and Princess of the Furrow post, where a link opens the form. The application deadline is July 25.
For further information, contact Stephanie Richardson by phone 519-365-5952 or by email to ckplowing@outlook.com
