2026 Convention Round Up

The 2026 Livestock Markets Association of Canada Annual Meeting and Convention was in Medicine Hat, Alberta.  The Host Market was S.A.L.E. Cowtown Livestock Exchange in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan.  This year’s host was the Livestock Marketers of Saskatchewan.

The event opened on Wednesday evening with the Board of Directors and invited guests dining at the historic Cypress Club in Medicine Hat.  Cattlemen, politicians, and financiers formed the private club in 1906.  On Thursday morning, the board of directors met.

Conventioneers and LMAC members arrived on Thursday, travelling from B.C. through to Nova Scotia to attend.  Many presidents and managers from various industry partners and organizations attended.

Thursday also hosted the meet-and-greet event at the Medicine Hat Lodge. The event sold out, with over 300 in attendance. The auctioneer draw took place, and several auction items sold. MNP sponsored the meet-and-greet; Chub Lundago from MNP gave a brief presentation.  

On Friday, the Canadian Livestock Auctioneering Championships were held at S.A.L.E Cowtown Livestock Exchange. Forty-One auctioneers from Ontario to BC, including 8 new auctioneers, sold over 2200 cattle.  Management and staff did an outstanding job presenting the cattle and running the sale.

The opening ceremonies featured the auctioneers from each province entering the ring. The judges and officials were introduced, and after the singing of both the Canadian and American national anthems, the contest got underway.

Attending LMAC for the third time, Dave Jacob, representing Brussels Livestock in Ontario, was crowned the Canadian Champion. The other buckle winners are listed under the convention news tab on this website. After the contest, all the conventioneers and auctioneers enjoyed a steak supper at the Maple Creek Armoury.

Saturday morning brought the LMAC annual meeting.  62 members attended; 8 more had registered official proxy votes.    Rick Wright, LMAC CEO, updated the membership on LMAC’s work on traceability and CCA membership, and introduced the new LMAC Administrator, Sheri Pedersen, to the membership.  He explained the new LMAC management structure and addressed the search for a new CEO and the leadership transition.  He also explained the Code of Conduct developed for auctioneers competing in the national event. He congratulated the Livestock Marketers of Saskatchewan and the national members for supporting this year’s convention.  He said LMAC has great momentum and encouraged the membership to keep working to keep LMAC sustainable and active.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Kee Jee.  He is one of Canada’s largest cattle feeders and is completing a 200,000-head feedlot in Nebraska.  He gave a market outlook for the fall of 2026.  He also spoke about the future of the auction market.  He addressed the need for a complete traceability system in Canada and spoke about his new Black Shirt Feedlot in Nebraska.  His presentation drew many questions from the floor.  His presentation is available on the LMAC website.

The Canadian Cattle Association’s new CEO, Andrea Brocklebank, gave a strong presentation on the proposed membership and governance structure at the CCA.  The current proposed structure does not include LMAC as a voting member.  She made it very clear that CCA sees great value in having LMAC at the table and is working very hard to accommodate LMAC’s requests.  Brocklebank took over the reins of CCA in March.  She also addressed the Traceability concerns expressed by the Canadian cattle producers.  She answered questions about Alberta’s July 1, 2026, withdrawal deal and the future of CCA.  Brocklebank gave updates on the  CUSMA and Mercosur trade negotiations.

Ken Perlich, the LMAC representative at CCIA, updated members on CCIA activities.  Topics included traceability, better technology and transparency.

The membership approved the Board of Directors’ recommendation to approve Allan Munroe of Killarney, Manitoba, as the new LMAC President for a 3-year term. The LMAC elections filled 2 director-at-large positions.  Danny Skeels was re-elected for a second 2-year term. Corey French from Perlich Bros. in Lethbridge was elected to his first term on the LMAC Board of Directors.  MLMA appointed Rick Wright as Manitoba’s director on the LMAC Board before the election.

In the afternoon, 80 people toured the Murray Lake Hutterite Colony.  They toured the 5000 head feedlot and learned about Hutterite history and culture.   Other conventioneers toured the Medalta Crockery factory and museum.  This operation is over 100 years old and still manufactures crockery items in  Medicine Hat.  

The event wrapped up with the “Red Carpet Awards Night.”  The event sold out, with over 250 people attending.

Outgoing LMAC President Craig Jacklin received a handmade leather LMAC meeting binder in recognition of his outstanding work as LMAC President.

LMA President Mike Van Naameen brought greetings from the LMAC’s American counterparts and spoke on the benefits of the two national bodies working together.  He was joined at the convention by the LMA – CEO Forrest Mangin.

The winners of the different awards were announced and presented with their buckles. Each of the top ten contestants received a custom-made leather meeting binder, sponsored by Livestock Marketers of Saskatchewan.

2026 Canadian Champion was Dave Jacob from Mitchell, Ontario, representing Brussels Livestock from Brussels, Ontario. He was the winner of $1,200 cash sponsored by LMAC, the use of an EBY trailer for a year sponsored by EBY, T-Down Trailers and Kaldeck Trailer Sales, a championship ring sponsored by Foothills Auctioneers Inc., Stavely, Alberta, a limited-edition bronze statue sponsored by the Canadian Limousin Association, and a champion belt buckle, sponsored by the Canadian Shorthorn Association.

Reserve Champion for the second year in a row was awarded to Tyler Slawinski from the Gladstone and Ashern Auction Markets in Manitoba. He received the Canadian Charolais buckle.

This year’s First Runner-Up was Tyler Rosehill, from the Olds Auction Mart in Olds, Alberta.  He won the Canadian Simmental Association buckle.

Kyle Soderberg, representing Northern Livestock Sales in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, was awarded Second Runner-Up. Kyle received the Canadian Angus Association buckle.

Third Runner-Up went to Kirk Goldsmith from VJV Marketing Group in Ponoka, Alberta. Goldsmith took home the Canadian Hereford Association buckle.

Tyler Rosehill from Olds Auction Mart received the Thorsby Stockyards Inc. buckle for the High Point Interview.

Boehringer Ingelheim sponsors the LMAC Rookie of the Year buckle, and this year’s recipient was Christian Von Platen representing VJV Livestock Marketing Group in Ponoka, Alberta.

The Jack Auction Group Most Improved buckle went to Josh Poland of Olds Auction Mart in Olds, Alberta.

The People’s Choice Award is sponsored by the Parks family at Whitewood Livestock. This award is voted on by the auctioneers in the competition.  This year’s winner was Tyler Cronkhite from S.A.L.E. Cowtown Livestock Exchange in Maple Creek, Sask.

The Man/Sask Auctioneering Championship was held alongside the LMAC national contest. Boehringer Ingelheim sponsored the event. Ty Cutler from Whitewood Livestock Sales in Whitewood, Sask., won.

The Bob Wright Memorial buckle is awarded to the top rookie from the Man/Sask competition. Rick Wright Cattle Consulting sponsors it, and it was awarded to Johnaton Stratruliak from the Killarney Auction Mart in Manitoba.

Former LMAC President Brock Taylor from Taylor Auctions in Melita, Manitoba, was inducted into the LMAC Hall of Fame. Taylor was also past president of the Alberta Auction Markets Association. Jim Abel served on numerous committees during his terms on LMAC’s board of directors.  Emerson Gill from Ontario was also nominated for the 2026 Hall of Fame award.

This year, four inductees joined the Memorial Honour Roll. Drillon Beaton is a field representative for Heartland Livestock in Manitoba. Beaton set the bar for customer service in livestock marketing. He resided in Strathclair Mb.

Charles Menard Auctioneer and co-owner of Ottawa Livestock Exchange. Charles was a talented auctioneer and the first Quebec representative to compete in the Canadian Livestock Auctioneering Championship.  He was a true promoter of the auction industry.

Lorraine Klepper from Red Deer, Alberta.  Lorraine was the administrator of the Alberta Auction Markets Association for over 30 years.  He was also the secretary of the Alberta Auctioneers Association for many years.  She is the first woman to be inducted into the Memorial Honour Roll.

Jim Wilson was an auctioneer and co-owner of the Cowtown Livestock Exchange in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, for many years.  He was an auctioneering legend in Saskatchewan and a well-respected promoter of the True Price Discovery by Auction.

Several items were auctioned off, including a charcuterie board made by Dale Cleghorn from Hartford Insurance, which several LMAC conventioneers and members purchased and resold for a total of $17,000.

LMAC Past President Craig Jacklin announced that the 2027 convention would be held in Ponoka, Alberta, May 13 to 16.  He also thanked the LMAC staff, many sponsors and volunteers who made the 2026 Convention a great success.

Each evening, the LMAC Bullpen was open. Conventioneers could stop in for refreshments and network with Canada’s top livestock marketing companies, auctioneers, and service providers. This was a great chance to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones.  Over 275 people from across Canada and the United States attended this year’s convention. Sponsorship support from the Maple Creek community, LMAC members, industry partners, and service providers set new records in 2026.

LMAC thanks the hosts, staff, and many volunteers who helped make this year’s convention and competition a huge success.