A tragic loss

It is with great sadness that we mark the recent and untimely death of farm activist and columnist Paul Beingessner. Paul’s was a clear, courageous, and principled voice of sanity, and his weekly columns helped us all to better understand the issues affecting farmers and rural communities, both in Canada and around the world. He will be deeply missed.

National Farmers’ Union President has written a moving open letter in response to Paul’s death, reproduced below.

Also below are links to a few of Paul’s articles, which have appeared in Briarpatch over the past few years.

An open letter from NFU President Stewart Wells on the deeply saddening news of the death of Paul Beingessner.

To Paul’s family, friends, and colleagues:

Farmers and ranchers have lost a strong and true voice with the passing of Paul Beingessner. We’ve lost a fellow farmer—one who loved his farm. And for many of us, we have lost a valued friend. We are deeply saddened.

Paul’s thought and analysis were always clear and deliberate.  His words cut through the issues and got to the heart of the matter, they spoke directly to the families who work to make a living from the land, and his words spoke directly to decision makers.

And Paul’s words were matched and amplified by his actions.  He was a builder, a contributor, a person who devoted much of his life to making rural Canada a better place.  Paul was genuine, humble, principled, and first to lend a hand to build alternatives and solutions.

We miss Paul already.  But he has left a legacy, and he has set a high standard for the rest of us to live up to.

Thank you, Paul.

Stewart Wells, NFU President
Swift Current, Saskatchewan
June 25, 2009

~

Selected Paul Beingessner articles

“New Government, Old Problems: Rural expectations weigh heavily on Saskatchewan’s new government,” December 2007

“Agrofuels will harm the world’s poor,” July 2007

“Biofuels will affect the price of food for the poor,” January 2007

“The Mysterious and the Funny: New twists in the CWB debate,” September 2006