Competitors from 28 countries are calling Baudette, Minn., “home” this week as they prepare for the 2019 World Ploughing Competition.

Participants have been arriving since early August to this area nestled along the Rainy River on the U.S.-Canada border to get acclimated. Many shipped their tractors and plows via containers prior to their arrival. They begin practicing Monday and will officially compete Aug. 30-31.

The World Ploughing Competition comes to the U.S. once every 30 years. Last year it was in Germany; next year it will be held in Russia.

Competitors use a two-bottom moldboard plow to carefully configure the soil and accumulate points based on criteria such as straightness, depth of furrow and consistency of rows. Judges closely monitor each competitor during this timed event.

“Everything is about the plow,” says Joel Wagner, USA Plowing Organization member, who oversees the marshaling yard located adjacent to the competition fields. “Competitors are working with both metal and plastic moldboards figuring out what is working best for this soil type.”

To form perfect rows, competitors are constantly tinkering with their plow moldboards — heating them up and bending them just so. They also modify plow jointers to clear the top of the soil.

The competition, held Aug 30-31 two miles south of Baudette at 1527 25th Ave. SE, is open to the public.

Sept. 1 is the USA Nationals, where it is determined who will represent the U.S. next year in Russia as well at the North American Championship, a contest between U.S. and Canadian plowers.

In addition to the international contest, there will be live music, food vendors, an international beer garden, and various displays and demonstrations.

U.S. representation

Gene Gruber of Eden Valley, Minn., a U.S. plowing champion, is competing at the world event along with his 16-year-old daughter, Hailey. The competition in Baudette is Gene’s 8th world contest. In 2010 in New Zealand, he became the first U.S. plowing champion to place in the top 10 at ninth place. Since then, he has earned fifth place (Canada, 2013), fourth place (Denmark, 2015) and first place (Kenya, 2017).

Hailey competed in her first plowing contest at age 8 and was hooked. In 2017, she won the national competition held in Pennsylvania, earning a spot to compete at the world contest in Germany in 2018. She placed sixth internationally, just a half-point behind the fifth-place winner from Finland.

For more information on the 2019 World Ploughing Competition, visit lakeofthewoodsmn.com.