Memorable Manitobans: Welland “Stoney” Stonehouse (1922-2007)

Agriculturalist.

Born at McAuley, Manitoba on 11 March 1922, one of ten children of Hector and Robina Stonehouse, he moved with his family to Two Creeks, Manitoba, where he attended school until the age of 17. He was hired as manager of the poultry barn at the University of Manitoba. He attended night school while working, eventually entering the Faculty of Agriculture from which he graduated with a BSA in 1952.

He began his professional career as an Agricultural Representative at Shoal Lake. He was actively involved with 4-H. In 1956, he transferred to Carberry where he continued to coach and mentor 4-H members. He formed a Junior Farmers’ Organization which improved seed cleaning facilities and irrigation systems, and establishing test plots for various vegetables. To support the growing potato industry, he worked to create a development corporation which purchased the RCAF base at Carberry. The facility was later sold to J. R. Simplot which established a potato processing facility there. He was instrumental in forming the “Manitoba Potato King” award to recognize top producers.

He worked for Simplot then Standard Chemical. From 1969 to 1989, he worked for Chipman Chemicals, now Syngenta, where he developed the use of foliar fungicides for the control of powdery mildew in irrigated wheat, desiccants on potatoes and pulse crops, a potato seed piece treatment, and a new grass herbicide for broadleaf crops. He introduced chemical fallow, reduced tillage, and direct seeding methods. In 2008, he was inducted posthumously into the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame.

He died at Medicine Hat, Alberta on 20 July 2007 and was buried in the Carberry Cemetery.

Source:

Citation, Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 26 July 2007.

This profile was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Profile revised: 25 April 2010

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