Remembering Ralph Winfield

Wednesday, December 24, 2025

‘A friend to every farmer who ever picked up the magazine.’

By The Better Farming Team | Photos Courtesy of the Winfield family

Ontario’s farming community is mourning the loss of longtime agricultural writer Ralph Gordon Winfield of Glanworth, who passed away at St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital on Oct. 17 at the age of 85.

Ralph’s name has been closely tied to Better Farming since 1999. His ‘How It Works’ column became a reader favourite across Ontario, celebrated for its engaging look at the mechanics and ingenuity of farm machinery – and for the fond memories it shared of farming life in years past.

“Ralph Winfield’s passing leaves a deep ache in the Better Farming family and among our readers across Ontario,” said Paul Nolan, publisher and editorial director. “For more than 26 years – since our very first issue – Ralph’s column has been a fixture of the magazine and a beloved voice in the province’s farm community.

“I’m grateful that he understood, truly, how loved he was by our readers. Ralph Winfield was more than a columnist. He was an inspiration, a storyteller, and a friend to every farmer who ever picked up the magazine.”

Born Dec. 22, 1939, in Woolwich Township, Waterloo County, Ralph was the son of the late Mabel (Lasby) and J. Edward Winfield. Growing up on the family farm shaped his lifelong dedication to agriculture, teaching, and innovation. He became the first in his family to attend university, graduating from the Ontario Agricultural College at the University of Toronto (now the University of Guelph) with degrees in Agricultural Science and Engineering.

Ralph’s professional career reflected both his technical expertise and his commitment to helping Ontario’s farmers adapt and thrive. He served as a section head and instructor at Ridgetown College of Agricultural Technology and worked with both Fanshawe College and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on sprayer and grain drying workshops. He also served as an Agricultural Applications Engineer at Ontario Hydro, where he advised farmers on energy efficiency and ventilation.

Beyond teaching and consulting, Ralph built a respected family business, Winfield Bros. Industrial and Agricultural Diesel Service, with his brother Lorne, reflecting a lifelong fascination with engines and mechanical systems. Even in recent years, he could still be found tinkering under the hood of a tractor at Steam-Era shows, fascinated by how machinery worked.

Ralph’s curiosity and storytelling spirit defined his decades-long contribution to Better Farming. This year, he proudly penned his 200th column – an achievement that reflected both his passion and his lasting bond with his readers.

In that April magazine, Ralph wrote: “Do I enjoy writing this column and the positive responses from Ontario’s farmers? You bet I do. Over the years, more feedback and questions from Better Farming readers have come from articles that have more to do with daily farm life than farm operations. I will never forget the overwhelming responses to my articles on an heirloom farm table and a mystery kitchen utensil I wrote about.”

Ralph was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Joan (2021). He leaves behind daughters Karen (Chris) Bancroft of Glanworth and Barb (Donny) Walsh of Guelph, as well as his adored granddaughter, Aurora.

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Winfield family, and our enduring gratitude to Ralph for sharing his wisdom, humour, and passion with Better Farming readers for more than a quarter century. His words and curiosity will continue to inspire the next generation of Ontario farmers.” BF