Farmers and their families from across the province recently gathered in Wallaceburg, Ontario, for the 39th annual All Ontario Farmers Bonspiel to compete for over $15,000 in prizes. The three-day curling tournament, which concluded on January 18, 2026, is a major social event and a significant fundraiser for the Sydenham Community Curling Club.
The event brought together 28 teams made up of active farmers and their families who travelled from communities such as Cookstown, Arthur and Orillia. Participants competed for a mix of cash and agricultural products — including seed, fertilizer and fuel vouchers — donated by local sponsors. The prize board totals more than $15,000 and, being largely composed of farm products, is considered one of the larger “cash and product” bonspiels reserved for farmers in Ontario.
The Sydenham Community Curling Club hosted the tournament, which serves as the club’s largest annual fundraiser. To keep competition fair, teams played two initial seeding games and were then placed into flights based on skill level, ensuring both competitive and recreational rinks remained in contention for prizes.
Beyond the matches on the ice, the weekend featured community activities such as combine (and tractor) races. Organizers and local reporting describe the bonspiel as an important winter networking hub for grain and livestock producers. The tournament has been organized by local volunteers for decades, with proceeds benefitting the Sydenham Community Curling Club and the Chatham-Kent community.
