Then & Now: Dr. David Biesenthal

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

‘I’m glad to have had the opportunity to help & advocate for farmers.’

By Mary Loggan

Dr. David Biesenthal’s lifetime career in agriculture and veterinary medicine has left an undeniable mark on the industry. Known as a farmer advocate, he has dedicated much of his life to protecting their interests and promoting responsible farming practices.

And he is still emphasizing the importance of meticulous record-keeping.

Biesenthal’s efforts to defend the integrity of farming during heightened scrutiny, particularly after the Walkerton water crisis in 2000, brought him respect across Ontario and beyond. In recognition of his contributions, he was inducted into the Ontario Agriculture Hall of Fame (OAHF) in 2023.

Stan Eby, who nominated him for the OAHF, recently told Better Farming that “David is highly principled and is undoubtedly a strong advocate for farmers both nationally and internationally. Many will never know his impact, but we can see the difference made in the ag community through his work and the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP).”

Farming and career

Although Biesenthal did not grow up farming, he recalls getting his first taste of agriculture by helping on his uncle’s farm. From there, he developed a passion for livestock, eventually leading to his decision to study veterinary medicine.

“I just loved being involved on the farm and with animals; becoming a veterinarian seemed like the easiest way to do both,” he says.

He graduated from the University of Guelph in 1968 with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine.

After school, Biesenthal bought a 127-acre farm property in Walkerton and started work at a veterinary clinic. Shortly after, in 1971, he and a colleague purchased the Walkerton-Hanover Veterinary Clinic, and built a new clinic between Walkerton and Hanover in 1973.

From 1980 to 2007, he operated the Walkerton Equine Clinic, specializing in general equine medicine, sports medicine, and equine reproduction.

While maintaining his veterinary career, Biesenthal started his cow-calf operation in 1973, with over 30 head of Limousin cattle.

In 1994, David and his son Scott started Stonegate Farms. It was a cash-crop enterprise that grew different commodities on 2,000 acres of owned and rented land. In 2018, he retired, with his son and grandson taking over.

Lifetime accomplishments

Biesenthal’s advocacy role started with detailed record-keeping and an EFP. Coincidently, his farm was adjacent to his local OMAFRA office at the time, which often held sessions covering EFPs and keeping efficient records.

“Looking back, I was fortunate because my farm was within walking distance of the OMAFRA office; I could go there any time I wanted to learn and prepare records. I lived so close – so I took advantage of it every chance.

“Maintaining detailed records was especially important to me; veterinarians are easy to sue, so I always wanted to ensure I was covered.”

In May 2000, following a large rainstorm and the subsequent E. coli contamination of the Walkerton water supply, the Biesenthal farm was initially identified as a potential source of the outbreak. However, the accusations were never substantiated.

Over the next two years, as investigations unfolded, Biesenthal played a 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