Stock Talks connect producers, municipal officials

When Curtis Vander Heyden of Picture Butte’s Grandview Cattle Feeders Ltd. attended Lethbridge County’s Stock Talks in October, he was prepared to discuss some of the challenges his family’s operation faces but did not expect immediate action.

“I did attend the Lethbridge County Stock Talks and it led to the operations manager Ryan Thomson, reaching out and coming to one of my locations for a ‘one-on-one’ so we could both air our frustrations about the past management of the road infrastructure and elaborate on what we could change and work together on,” Vander Heyden says.

He appreciated the opportunity to meet with a municipal official for a boots on the ground interaction.

“It was the first time in recollected memory that anyone from the County of Lethbridge not only took the time, but actually asked for continued input,” Vander Heyden says.

Indeed, the Stock Talks he attended provided an organized and moderated environment to have meaningful two-way discussions with municipal officials. He hopes that this open dialogue with producers will continue and result in positive change.

Stock Talks are part of a public trust project, funded by the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, initiated by the Intensive Livestock Working Group (ILWG) four years ago. These meetings are the pinnacle phase four of the project, and the first meeting was held in May 2025. The purpose of Stock Talks is to build relations between producers and municipalities.

The working group includes such major livestock commodity groups as Alberta Beef Producers, Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association, Alberta Turkey, Alberta Pork, Alberta Chicken Producers, Alberta Milk, Alberta Hatching Egg Producers and Egg Farmers of Alberta. ILWG helps provide a unified voice on topics or issues that impacts all these sectors and public trust was identified as a challenge across the board.

“The goal of Stock Talks is really for the rural municipalities to understand the important role they play and how they can be a partner to the agricultural sectors, especially the livestock sector, around regulations and policies,” says ILWG Executive Director Melody Garner-Skiba.

ILWG facilitates these meetings by coordinating attendees, agendas, communications and meeting locations. With this support, producers can offer valuable insights into Alberta’s livestock industry through storytelling and face-to-face conversations.

The approach is to connect farmers, ranchers and Confined Feedlot Operation (CFO) managers with municipalities, allowing conversations about potential impacts to take place before any changes or regulations are made at the municipal level, Garner-Skiba says.

Alongside deliberations regarding policy and regulatory matters, municipal officials have demonstrated a growing interest in food production and helping constituents better understand where their food comes from.

“Every producer needs to know … I’ve heard a lot of councils say they are only one council election away from having nobody with a background or experience in agriculture sitting at the council table,” Garner-Skiba says. “That is something we need to consider going forward.”

Ranchers and operators who are interested in attending or hosting Stock Talks should visit ILWG’s project page to learn more and complete the producer interest form. Participants should expect a time commitment of up to three hours to prepare for and participate in Stock Talks.

“There are agendas, there are key messages, there’s training and support for them all along the way. We are there to make sure they have what they need,” Garner-Skiba says. “For two to three hours of time, it could make a huge impact on their business.”

Over the last few months of meetings across the province, the group is already seeing tangible outcomes.

“Working committees are now starting with certain counties to talk about rural road infrastructure. We’ve got now CFO operators that are volunteering and they’re sitting on ag service boards,” Garner-Skiba says.

Through in-person connection and conversations, facilitated by Stock Talks, producers and engaged officials can build trust between municipalities and Alberta’s livestock sector.