The annual Big Rock Plowing Match festival is set for begin Friday in Big Rock.
The fest will run from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at 48W508 Hinckley Road in Big Rock. Parking and admission are free.
Now in its 130th year, organizers said the event remains popular “because of the tradition.”
“I attribute the longevity to basically farmers and wanting to preserve the traditions that the previous generations did – plowing by horse and by tractor and mules. It’s the uniqueness of the plowing competition that continues to drive this,” said Denise Ferrugia, board member for the Big Rock Plowing Match Association.
“We have multiple generations of people who come specifically for the plowing matches,” she said. “Several families that I work with over the years – there is the fifth generation of plowers at the competition. There is one family (where a man) always comes in a kilt and plays the bagpipes and I believe his family is a fourth or fifth generation.”
Over the three nights and two full days, Ferrugia said the event can draw about 1,500 people.
“This is like a college reunion except it’s for a community,” she said. “We have a whole contingent of families that come up from Tennessee. This year, they aren’t competing but they are supporting a relative who is competing,
“Probably from my point of view, the most unique and special event we are holding this year is a horse-plowing demonstration,” she said.
A press release from the Plowing Match Association notes that the horse plowing demonstration is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Davis Field. Emily Harris will be behind her team of Belgian horses, Barney and Junior, pulling her grandfather’s plow. It has been 58 years since her grandfather Wyllie McMicken took first-place in the Horse and Mule Class in 1966. His trophy will be at the afternoon demonstration.
Other highlights, Ferrugia said, “include an extended menu at our concession stand” along with bringing craft beer to the festival from vendor Obscurity Brewing and Craft Mead of Elburn, along with domestic beers.
As for live music, on Saturday night Wild Wreck will perform at 6 p.m. with The Fox Valley Brass Quintet playing from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday.
Regular favorites will be back at the fest including carnival rides, bingo, a watermelon eating contest, craft fair, petting zoo, Saturday’s old-time baseball games, mud volleyball and more.
“We also have made improvements to the park,” she said. “The Lions Club installed an asphalt path so people can get to restrooms if they have limited mobility and out kitchen was completely upgraded. There are also new dugouts, new flowers beds.”
She said the event has 14 sponsors this year who have given to the association with anywhere from $1,000 to $15,000.
“We’ve never had that many sponsors at that high of a level,” she said.
For more information on the event, go to www.bigrockplowingmatch.org/
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.