N. Dumfries Plowing Match

“The Massey-Harris Model 81 was a two-plow small-farm tractor built by Massey-Harris (later Massey Ferguson) from 1941-1948.[1] Introduced to replace Massey's General GG,[1] the 81 was paired with the Model 82 (which used kerosene, or tractor vaporizing oil {TVO}, as it was known in Britain)[2] and was very similar to the Model 101 Junior,[1] which first appeared in 1939.[3] It was offered in standard-tread and row-crop versions, as was the Model 20 that followed it. The Model 81 was joined in 1946 by the Model 20,[4] both of which survived in production until 1948.[1][4] – “Wikipedia

This Model #81 was seen at North Dumfries Plowing match held on Trussler’s farm on a road my old school bus took back in the 1960’s. My grandfather, Ed Feick, great Uncle Clayton Shantz, Uncle Earl Feick and my Dad, Don Feick, were all champion plowmen, both at the local township, including North Dumfries, & county levels as well as the International Plowing Match. From the time I was old enough to walk I attended the matches too. Farmers left bushel baskets of apples and pears on hay wagons parked on the head lands for all to enjoy. Many older men had bags of Scotch mints, black balls and linseed lozenges in their suit jacket pockets or their overalls to dole out to well behaved kids. I loved the sounds of the match too . . the squeak of the leather; the gees and the haws cried out by the horsemen;  . . .the smell of the horses mixed with the diesel fumes and exhaust from the tractors  . . .and the scent of the hay or straw on the wagons. It was a great time and especially for someone like me with a passion for horses. Ploughing matches were my highlight of the year. I still go whenever I can. - Jenny