// JavaScript Captions for Plowing Match 2006 Slide Show
// Revised February 25, 2007

var caption = new Array();
var headline = new Array();

headline[0] = "The International Plowing Match is a big event";
caption[0] = "Peel Region's roots are agricultural. Each year, one community plays host to the <i>International Plowing Match</i>, which is a h-u-g-e agricultural exhibition. It is an annual highlight event for MPPs as well. This year's event was held in Cobourg, just east of Toronto.";

headline[1] = "The suburban and the rural meet in the country";
caption[1] = "That's Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn; me; Ottawa Orleans MPP Phil McNeely and Chatham Kent Essex MPP Pat Hoy getting ready for the annual parade during the Plowing Match.";

headline[2] = "The government caucus goes plowing in Cobourg";
caption[2] = "Urban, suburban and rural, cabinet ministers and members showed up in big numbers in 2006 for the annual International Plowing Match in Cobourg.";

headline[3] = "Friendships across the Legislature floor";
caption[3] = "Though I sit on the government side of the Legislature, and Oak Ridges MPP Frank Klees sits in opposition, we get along just fine, and now Frank can look at a picture of himself on my web site.";

headline[4] = "Riding on a hay wagon in the parade";
caption[4] = "Visible on the government hay wagon are Ottawa Centre MPP Richard Patten; Guelph Wellington MPP Liz Sandals (centre); and Ottawa Vanier MPP, and Francophone Affairs Minister, Madeline Meilleur.";

headline[5] = "The government float in the parade";
caption[5] = "Under threatening skies, though the rain held off, the Ploughing Match parade slowly wended its way through the expansive parade ground.";

headline[6] = "Captain Ontario on the government";
caption[6] = "Premier Dalton McGuinty rode the float, and I liked the flag as a backdrop to him in this portrait.";

headline[7] = "Some of the local MPPs on the parade float";
caption[7] = "Peterborugh MPP Jeff Leal, Minister of Agriculture & Food Leona Dombrowski and Premier McGuinty at the back of the government float.";

headline[8] = "Tens of thousands attend the Ploughing Match";
caption[8] = "The attendees to the International Ploughing match are a mirror on rural Ontario. Here are some of the spectators viewing the floats.";

headline[9] = "The floats watch the people who watch the floats";
caption[9] = "I remember a song from the 1960s that went something like that. Some of the ministries and departments of the various levels of government have exhibits too.";

headline[10] = "Peterborough says hello!";
caption[10] = "If you're a city person, or a suburbanite, there's lots to photograph at the Internatonal Ploughing Match to depict a taste of rural Ontario.";

headline[11] = "Check out the guy second from left";
caption[11] = "On the left is Jeff Leal, Peterborough's much-liked MPP; then me; then Agriculture & Food Minister Leona Dombrowski; and Dalton on the right.";

headline[12] = "Western Mississauga meets rural Ontario";
caption[12] = "My good friend, Stratford-based John Wilkinson, reprsents the rural riding of <i>Perth Middlesex</i>, which includes the Stratford Festival.";

headline[13] = "The Santa Claus Day Parade has competition";
caption[13] = "The quality and originality of the floats in the International Ploughing Match competes with the best in the Streetsville Santa Claus Parade.";

headline[14] = "I don't think the Kawartha Dairy still uses this";
caption[14] = "It is quite the lovely classic car on display outside one of the tents at the Ploughing Match.";

headline[15] = "The photo essay starts on the 2006 Ploughing Match";
caption[15] = "Looking to buy a cow? The International Ploughing Match is as good a place as any to start.";

headline[16] = "Is beef in your blood?";
caption[16] = "This tent is where a number of key stakeholders (or is that &quot;steakholders&quot;) gather to exhibit their stock and talk about beef cattle.";

headline[17] = "Where's the beef?";
caption[17] = "In this case, standing right in front of the camera. This animal is a Hereford.";

headline[18] = "Autumn in Ontario. Bring your camera!";
caption[18] = "How could a single image be more evocative of an Ontario autumn day, or a more timeless memory?";

headline[19] = "A piece of the past becomes a nostalgic display";
caption[19] = "Must have been good enough in my granddad's day! This old fire truck was lovingly restored and was on display in Cobourg.";

headline[20] = "Did somebody say &quot;chocolate fudge?&quot;";
caption[20] = "I'm there! Grandpa's Homemade fudge was just that, too. Great stuff and good Canadian country eating. The food alone is worth the price of admission.";

headline[21] = "Another timeless Ontario country image";
caption[21] = "Never mind the decade, this image could be from the 21st, 20th or 19th Century. Just another nice day in the country with a 21st Century camera.";

headline[22] = "The Ontario country autumn afternoon reverie";
caption[22] = "Another booth, and another lovely Ontario autumn still-life. Must be something to say for a life in rural Ontario.";

headline[23] = "The rural birdhouse townhouse complex";
caption[23] = "I guess the birds have figured out condo living. Perched atop farm tools, this vendor showed off his bird houses.";