Changes are underway at the Alberta Beef Producers after the association held its AGM in early December.
Delegates passed several resolutions designed to reduce costs and better engage grass-roots members after members rejected a proposal to make the group’s check-off non-refundable in 2018.
Among the biggest changes were the amalgamation of the zones, creating five zones in total for the province. Southern Alberta now has two zones, central Alberta has one, and northern Alberta two. Each zone will have seven delegates. Last fall’s elections saw many delegates acclaimed, and some delegate spots went unfilled.
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The board of directors will consist of 12 directors elected at large to staggered, two-year terms by delegates at the AGM. Each zone will be represented by at least one director on the board.
Delegates also voted to move the AGM to coincide with the Alberta Beef Industry Conference, held in February or March in Red Deer. Both the Alberta Cattle Feeders Association and Western Stock Growers’ Associations hold their AGMs at the Beef Industry Conference.
Delegates also dissolved the cow-calf council and the cattle feeder council. Charlie Christie, the past chair of the association, told Alexis Kienlen of Alberta Farmer Express that the association’s work with the Alberta Cattle Feeders removes the need for the cow-calf council. The association will create working groups with people from the delegate or producer body, plus directors from the board. These types of working groups would disband once they’d finished the job.
A proposal to eliminate the semi-annual meeting was postponed until delegates had more information.
Some of the changes carried at the AGM will need approval from the Alberta Agricultural Products Marketing Council.
