Dwayne Boughen, John's brother and partner in their farming operation.

from Northumberland Today  October 3, 2012
ANNUAL PLOWING MATCH SATURDAY
by Valerie MacDonald
PORT HOPE - It's been 100 years since the northeast corner of County Road 28 and the Dale Road has been home to the Northumberland County Ploughing Match and this Saturday will be the return engagement, says co-host farm owner, John Boughen.
He and his brother, Dwayne, did provide a substitute host site in 2008 when asked, but that was on a more easterly section of their 150-acre family farm.
"It's wonderful (hosting)," Boughen said. "I'm thrilled. I'm so excited."
The farm has been owned by the Boughens since 1911 when John's namesake and grandfather purchased it from another well-known area name, the Rosevear family. Earlier in its history documents show that Nesbitt Kirchoffer, a two-time Port Hope mayor, owned the property in 1867, and before that in 1844, the sons of Barnabas Bletcher, Stephen and William, owned it. Barnabas originally rented the land, a clergy reserve, and there was no deed in place until 1835, Boughen said in summarizing the farm's history.
The legacy of the Bletcher family "has almost been forgotten" yet they operated an inn where the ploughing match will take place this weekend, had the Port Hope to Bewdley to Peterborough coach line, imported horses in the 1800s when such animals were scarce and held horse races too, Boughen said.
All of this information, pictures and written data, will be part of displays at the ploughing match, he added.
"I'm going to be standing there. Anybody who wants to listen, I'll talk to them."
Boughen is also attempting to have an historical plaque erected to recognise the past accomplishments of the Bletchers.
In addition to written and pictorial history, the ploughing match will primarily be a place where people can watch the old-fashioned ploughing style with horses and antique tractors.
Northumberland Ploughman's Association spokesperson Allan Carruthers says about 40 competitors have registered for the ploughing events coming from areas like Wolfe Island, Lindsay and Sutherland. Local entry, Terry Linton of Roseneath, will be ploughing with horses, he added.
Antique tractors and their owners will come from as far away as Barrie.
Qualifiers in various categories at this ploughing match will compete in next year's International Plough Match being held in Perth County, Carruthers said.
Usually about 200 to 300 people attend the local ploughing match in Northumberland, he said.
The Lions Club of Bewdley will be selling refreshments and the county's goodwill ambassador, the Queen of the Furrow, Cindy Cole of Brighton, will also be there.
The Saturday ploughing match takes place between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and everyone is welcome.