Plowing Match 24: Hallahan, Hickey clans have rich plowing match histories

BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN

Huron County Plowmen’s Association President Steve Hallahan has a touching, two-generation history with the organization and serves as president and his daughter, Grace, is known as a former Plowing Match Princess. And yet, that’s hardly the beginning of the story.

 

When Grace was crowned Princess in 2019 - a reign that would continue for several years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, not that she could have known that at the time - she was in fact the fourth generation of her family to make waves and find success in the world of plowing matches in Huron County.

 

Joseph Hickey, Grace’s great-grandfather, joined the Huron County Plowmen’s Association in 1966. That same year, he volunteered at the International Plowing Match (IPM) held near Seaforth alongside his son Bob.

 

That’s on the side of the family that includes Grace’s grandmother Marian Hallahan, a Blyth-based historian and Joseph’s daughter. Meanwhile, on her husband Frank’s side, involvement also dates back four generations.

 

On Monday, Oct 9, 1967, Dan Hallahan, Frank’s father, hosted the Huron County Plowing Match at his home farm, located on Lot 40, Con. 5 in East Wawanosh. That was the 40th annual Huron County Plowing Match, located, as the program helpfully points out, “one mile west of No. 4 Highway on the Westfield Road.”

 

Just a few years later, three Hickey sons took part in the 43rd annual Huron County Plowing Match, held at Joe Ryan’s farm near Walton, in 1970. Bob was the runner-up in the Open Class for all four corners, Jim was the runner-up in the Open Class for tractors, mounted, semi-mounted or trail plows and John placed second in both the Green Class for boys and girls 15 years of age and under (crown finish) and the Special Junior High School Class for competitors 16 years of age and under.

 

But it didn’t end there. Connie (Hickey) Black was crowned Queen of the Furrow at that match as well, with her brother Jim as her coach. That punched her ticket to the International Plowing Match being held that fall in Lindsay, Ontario. She participated in the provincial Queen of the Furrow competition, though all competitive plowing that year was cancelled due to excessive rainfall.
Soon, it was again time for Huron County to play host to the International Plowing Match - this time at the Armstrong farm near Wingham in 1978. At that match, Joseph Hickey volunteered as part of the parking committee.

 

Joseph stayed involved with the local plowing matches for a number of years after that, introducing the nail-driving competition in 1983. It ran until 1989 when insurance concerns marked the end of the popular contest. In fact, Marian still has the final nail driven in her possession - as a historian in the truest sense of the word.

 

For their part, Frank and Marian also got involved in IPMs whenever they could. In 1999, Marian spearheaded the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association display, showcasing her long-time involvement with the organization, and then, in 2017, she volunteered, helping prepare lunches and within the antique display area. 

 

Also at that match, Joseph’s granddaughter Diane (Hallahan) Millian co-ordinated the school program and children’s activities at the 2017 IPM as well.

 

Furthermore, as part of the 2017 IPM beautification competition, the Hallahans placed second in the urban homes category. Marian fashioned a flower display using her father’s old farming boots that impressed the judges and most certainly tied into the family’s history with plowing matches in Huron County.

 

Bringing the family’s history into the current day, Steve has now been involved with the Huron County Plowmen’s Association for five years, serving as its president for this historic match. His daughter, Grace, was crowned the Huron County Princess in 2019, but will not be letting her name stand for Queen of the Furrow this year - though she hasn’t closed the door on a future campaign down the road.

 

The Hickey side of the family - so Grace’s cousins - remains highly active in the goings-on of Huron County Plowing Matches as well. Joseph’s grandsons, Brendon and Aiden Hickey, have both been 4-H Sodbusters Club members and competed in the Huron County Plowing Match and the International Plowing Match when it was held near Orangeville recently. They also competed in a local plowing match in the Cambridge area, where their other set of grandparents live.

 

Marian says that she and Frank are both immensely proud of their family involvement in such a celebration of agriculture over the years. She says events like the Huron County Plowing Match and International Plowing Match are doing what they can to keep agriculture front and centre and that a community like Huron County needs champions like those events.
She also lauded the involvement of the new generation, saying they’re both so proud to see their grandchildren keeping up the tradition that’s so very important to them.