23 Better Farming | January 2025 Follow us on @BetterFarmingON pivotal role in defending the integrity of farming practices and highlighting the importance of Best Management Practices (BMPs) – armed with his meticulous records, a solid professional reputation, and strong communication skills. “I got a call from Michael Goss, who at the time worked for the University of Guelph in the Environmental Sciences Department. He and his colleagues had thoroughly investigated my records and were exactly how they were supposed to be.” After the inquiry, Biesenthal travelled across Ontario and Canada, advocating for the EFP and the crucial role of thorough record-keeping. By showcasing the practices he implemented on his own farm, he provided real-world examples of how EFP processes could benefit both farm operations and environmental stewardship. “The thing that triggered me the most was getting a call from the media asking us, ‘What does it feel like being responsible for the death of seven people?’ When, in fact, that wasn’t true. “People try to blame and target agriculture because they think we are the ‘weakest link.’ At this point, farmers were scared – getting struck with blame and not knowing how to protect themselves. “This is why I travelled across Canada; I wanted to show farmers they can protect themselves and share what happened in our situation.” In 2007, he became one of the founding members of the Source Protection Committee for the Saugeen, Grey, Sauble, and North Bruce Peninsula Source Water Protection Region. Over the following 10 years, he played a crucial role in reviewing draft Source Protection Plan policies before they were submitted for provincial approval, ultimately contributing to the successful adoption of the Provincial Source Protection Plan. In addition to his contributions to the agricultural community, David is also proud of his other lifetime accomplishments, which include being chosen for the University of Guelph Football ‘Team of the Decade’ Award in 1960, the Bruce Country Federation of Agriculture ‘Award of Merit’ in 2006, and the Ontario Harness Horse Association’s ‘Outstanding Service Award’ in 2007. Looking back and looking forward “Looking back, I’m glad to have had the opportunity to help and advocate for farmers. Farmers must be able to represent and protect themselves, especially when many see agriculture as an easy target that seems to always be under scrutiny. “Travelling across Canada, sharing my story and how we fought back, helped us connect with farmers on such a deep level. We also got to see the whole country the best way possible, through the eyes of every farmer we visited.” Now retired, Biesenthal says he is happy to have been a part of the agricultural community and made a difference for farmers. “Agriculture has made so much progress in my lifetime. I was blown out of the water to see all the changes and happy to have been involved in some of them. “It is important to wake up every day and love what you do, and to me, you couldn’t get a better profession than in agriculture.” BF Biesenthal Family photo RECONNECTING: DR. DAVID BIESENTHAL Biesenthal Family photo David and Carolyn with their children: Jon, Laryssa, Carla, and Scott. The grandchildren love visiting the farm. Front: Macy, Ellie, Ryley, Avery, Miles, and Braedon. Back: Sarah, Madison, Curtis, and Carter. MARY LOGGAN Mary is a graduate of the University of Guelph. She was raised on a dairy farm and currently operates an equestrian facility in Oxford County.
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