OUTSTANDING LEADERS TO BE INDUCTED INTO
PETERBOROUGH COUNTY AGRICULTURAL WALL OF FAME

We are honoured to announce this year’s Peterborough County Agricultural Wall of Fame inductees:  
Dr. Bill and Mary Belch, Peter English, David Nelson, Roy and Christina Sanderson.

Please join us in celebrating their agricultural achievements at the 
2022 Peterborough County Agricultural Wall of Fame 
Induction Ceremony
Sunday, August 28^th at 2 p.m. 
Agricultural Heritage Building, Lang Pioneer Village Museum, Keene

DR. BILL BELCH (1927-2022) AND MARY (GRAY) BELCH (1934 – )

Dr. Bill and Mary Belch founded the Peterborough Buffalo Farm, which at its peak had 350 head on 1000 acres.   They played an important role in protecting a part of Canadian history through bison and were known internationally for their breeding stock.  The Belches purchased their first 44 Prairie Buffalo in February 1969 from Elk Island National Park, Alberta. They developed a market for federally inspected bison meat, selling directly to consumers and local restaurants.  Mary sold bison meat at the Peterborough Farmers’ Market for over 20 years.  The passion for bison farming was a family affair. 
Dr. Belch was a founder of the Canadian Bison Association and became national president in 1991.  He was named the Grand Bisoneer of America, and they received international recognition for their lifetime dedication and service to the bison industry.

G. PETER ENGLISH (1943-2019)

Peter English was raised on the family farm, Enghill Holsteins, a Master Breeder herd near Hastings, Ontario and was an outstanding Peterborough 4-H member. In 1967, he graduated with an Associate Diploma in Agriculture from the Ontario Agricultural College and was a member of the winning Royal Agricultural Winter Fair livestock judging team. After graduation, Peter joined the Holstein Journal, the most influential dairy publication in the world, as associate editor.  In 1987, he became a partner in the Holstein Journal and in 1991 became sole owner and publisher, along with serving as livestock advertising manager.  The Journal provided accounts from auctions, show reports, herd profiles, association news, and breeder advertisements from across Canada, the USA, and beyond.  Peter was a long-time member of Holstein Canada.  He received Holstein Canada’s Certificate of Recognition, the Supreme Dairy Show’s International Friend Award, and his life’s work was recognized at Holstein Canada’s 2019 Annual Meeting.

DAVID P. NELSON (1944-2020)

David Nelson farmed his entire life near Keene in Otonabee Township, first on his family’s dairy farm and later on his adjoining farm.  He was a Peterborough 4-H member, winning the Dairy Award, and involved in the Peterborough County Junior Farmers.  David was a member of the Peterborough County Federation of Agriculture and the Peterborough Soil and Crop Association.  He took great pride in his Nelsdale Farm’s endeavors of cash cropping and custom work.  In addition to careers in farming and drafting at General Electric, David served in local politics for 44 consecutive years. He was a Township Councilor, Deputy Reeve, and Reeve.  He sat on County Council and served two terms as Peterborough County Warden.  His political activities allowed him to provide a farm-informed perspective to Federal and Provincial Ministers on a wide range of issues and concerns.  He was a champion of Lang Pioneer Village Museum and, from 2003 to 2018, was active in the Museum’s Advisory Committee.

ROY SANDERSON (1904-1981) AND CHRISTINA (BULMER) SANDERSON (1904-2002) 

Roy and Christina Sanderson were raised on farms in Smith Township and married in 1924.  They joined the Sanderson family dairy farm on Chemong Road, where Portage Place Mall is now.  Roy delivered milk and eggs by horse and buggy or cutter to customers around Peterborough. When the farm was expropriated in 1951, they purchased a farm in Bailieboro, South Monaghan Township.  The farm was unproductive, had been impacted by soil erosion, and extensive work was required on outbuildings.  Roy envisioned the property, including contours on the slopes and strip farming of the land.  The Sandersons transformed their farm of “bog and bulrushes” into a beautiful and productive property.  They hosted many tours showcasing new practices.  Their contour farming practices with crop rotation were featured in several agriculture publications and textbooks.  They also installed the first DeLaval pipeline in Peterborough County.