Activities and Events

The membership of the Wheatland Plowing Match Association (WPMA) is actively involved through its many activities during the year in furthering the historical objectives of the organization as well as providing new activities for its membership and to further the educational philosophy of the group. 

 


 

SPAGHETTI DINNER 
Each spring WPMA membership organizes and conducts a spaghetti dinner for its membership and for the Naperville-Plainfield community. Members are involved in the planning, implementation, including the preparation of publicity, ordering supplies, location setup, and cooking and serving the meal. Proceeds from the dinner are used to support the organization's scholarship fund.

 

 ANNUAL FARMERS' PIG ROAST
Started in 1981 at the Naperville Riverwalk, the Farmers Pig Roast continues to be one of the most impressive activities of WPMA. The purposes of the Pig Roast, held now in August of each year, at a local rural site, are to foster friendships among WPMA membership and the general public, to further financial support for the organization, and to highlight the importance of our rural heritage. WPMA announces its scholarships winners at this time.

TEACHERS ON AN AGRI-SCIENCE BUS
WPMA is proud to be a co-sponsor of the DuPage County "Teachers on an Agriscience Bus". Initiated in 1991 as a teacher education program to provide educators with a first-hand view of American agriculture including production, processing, marketing, and the many inter-related aspects of the agriscience industry. The three and one-half day program emphasizes the career opportunities available to youth in non-farm Agriculture industries. This program has been recognized by national and state education organizations as an innovative and challenging teacher education in-service program. 

YOUTH SCHOLARSHIPS
In an on-going effort to reward and encourage local youth to pursue advanced education in agriculture or related industries, WPMA offers financial scholarships to deserving students in local high schools. Scholarship applications are available from the Association in early spring and can be viewed online.
BUSINESS-EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP 
WPMA formed a business-education partnership with Naperville Community Unit School District 203 in 2001. The purposes of this partnership are to foster advancement of agricultural literacy in the suburban community, to further the study of the area's agricultural history, and to provide additional resources for the District's students.