On August 17 and 18, Willem de Lint and his wife, Ina, of Zevenbergschenhoek, Netherlands were honoured guests at the anniversary celebration of the 1957 World Conservation Exposition and the fifth World's Ploughing Contests. A farmer and a competitive ploughman for several years, de Lint earned the world ploughing championship during the competition among 14 nations that year.

"I was really impressed when I had breakfast with the de Lints Friday morning," said Dean Bailey, Peebles village administrator. "They are an example of the hard-working, normal, everyday people that live across the world. You could have the same conversation with any couple here. They are proud of their family and just wanted to pay their bills and enjoy their life together." It was world peace that prevailed throughout the celebration as visitors of all ages, from near and far, descended on the village, giving continuance to a time half a century past, and an art as timeless as the soil. An estimated 5,000 people came to Peebles High School and the neighbouring Knauff Farm to celebrate and reminisce.

Among the speakers at a banquet held Friday evening were Willem de Lint; Ann Lane Schraffner, of Dexter, Mich., 1957 Queen of the Furrow; and First Lady of Ohio, Frances Strickland. Mr. de Lint detailed how he learned to master his ploughing skills through trial and error and through observing the competition. He later became a ploughing coach and judge, sharing his acquired knowledge and skill with a younger generation of ploughmen.

The event, organized by the Adams County Historical Society, included ploughing demonstrations with tractors, horses and mules; square-dancing tractors; a style review of 1950s attire; music by the West Union Steel Drum Band and the Liberty Band; and a line-up of tractors, some of which were present at the exposition in 1957.

The exposition in 1957 was a four day event attended by more than 253,000 people. According to Ray DeVore, son of the chairman of the exposition, the late Earl DeVore, it was the world's largest agricultural event ever held and had the largest display of farm equipment of any event to this day.

Thanks to Steve Hively!