ACFA 50th anniversary

50 years! The cattle feeding industry has faced many high and lows, from record-high prices to BSE, and the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association (ACFA) has been here through it all. 

February 2023 marked the 50th anniversary of ACFA being the voice of Alberta cattle feeders. Cattle feeding was just getting started in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and the cattle industry was changing, having been dominated by stock growers. In February 1973, after years of not feeling well represented, cattle feeders came together to form ACFA. The early years were a struggle to say the least, and the founding members were the only reason the association survived.

“At that time, I don’t think any of us had any idea how significant cattle feeding in this province would become,” said Garnet Altwasser, ACFA founding member.

The 1980s saw fed cattle being marketed to the United States for the first time. And to try to gain financial stability, ACFA decided to host an annual meeting and tradeshow as well as publish a magazine. That first annual meeting and tradeshow grew to become the Alberta Beef Industry Conference, first hosted in 2004. The conference has now become one of Canada’s premier beef events and this year celebrated its 20th anniversary.

The next few decades had their successes and challenges. The feeding industry doubled in capacity, creating new issues for cattle feeders including animal welfare and environmental responsibility. To combat these challenges, ACFA decided to develop a study to determine the economic impact of the cattle feeding industry on the economy. BSE’s arrival made for some of the toughest times cattle feeders had seen in a while. ACFA worked with the provincial and federal governments to develop compensation programs and worked with other associations to help all sectors of the beef industry survive the crisis.

Through it all, ACFA has continued to advocate for cattle feeders on trade, animal care, environmental sustainability, and consumer outreach, to name a few key matters. Bringing awareness to the government has been maintained through meetings, the MLA dinner, and feedlot tours.

Over the last 50 years, ACFA has maintained three core priorities: advocacy, member value, and partnership and collaboration. By focusing on these priorities, ACFA is able to help enhance the competitiveness of the cattle feeding sector in Alberta, strengthen the Alberta and Canadian beef industry, and remain the voice of Alberta cattle feeders. 

ACFA has a member event planned this summer to celebrate this remarkable milestone.

A full history of ACFA can be found in “From Start to Finish” on the ACFA website.

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This article was first published in Volume 3 Issue 2 of ABP Magazine (June 2023). Watch for more digital content from the magazine on ABP Daily.