After 1873, plowing matches were held intermittently until 1922 when the B.C. Department of Agriculture encouraged the formation of plowing societies in British Columbia. A number were formed in several areas throughout the Lower Fraser Valley. Chilliwack is the only community that still runs plowing competitions.
In the first plowing matches, the plowers were responsible for plowing a plot that was ½ acre plot, 660 feet by 33 feet. It took all day to plow this land. To-day, plowers are responsible for a plot that is 200 feet by 33 feet taking 3 or 4 hours to complete.
It was Tom Hickman who said that it was an enthusiastic team that represented 60% of the plowing effort, with the remaining 40% being the skill level of the plower.
Since 1922, Chilliwack has been the centre for plowing matches. Many champions have come out of these competitions. In 1931, before tractors were introduced to the matches, 67 horse teams participated, a total that has not been matched. In the 1920s and 1930s, plowers could travel the plow circuit to attend several Fraser Valley matches. Ted Mitchell first demonstrated tractor plowing in 1939. In 1943, Graham Mitchell won the first tractor competition with a single furrow plow. By 1949 tractor plowing was a regular feature of plowing matches.
In 1948, the annual plowing match was held on the Thomson Brother's farm. This farm was bound by Chilliwack Central Road, Young Road, and Brooks Avenue. In the 1950s this farm became the Green Acres subdivision.
Count Van Rechteren organized the first international competition in 1942. Competitors from Lynden, Washington, which was a predominantly Dutch community, participated in this event. Bill Dyble and Archie Stevenson represented Chilliwack in this event.
Until 1973 or 1974, plowing matches were always held on Wednesdays, coinciding with store closures in Chilliwack. The original matches were held in November but that changed to April when better weather prevails.