Jim Abel

2025 LMAC Hall of Fame Inductee

Jim Abel got his start in the livestock marketing industry when he married into the Charlie McKay family in 1977. McKay and his partner had built the Stettler Auction Mart from scratch, and Jim didn’t get any special treatment; he started in the back as the yard foreman’s assistant. Keen to learn and a hard worker, Jim worked his way up the ladder, learning the trade and the importance of customer service.

In 1990 Jim and his brother-in-law Greg Hayden purchased the market. They successfully operated it until 2016 when they sold the operation to the Rairdan family.

During their time at the market, Jim and Greg both served as directors on LMAC. Jim took a strong interest in “cattle politics,” and became very active in the Alberta Auction Markets Association, serving as President. He served as Chairman of the Alberta Livestock Inspection Service and sat on many provincial committees.

Jim Abel had a reputation as a fair but tough negotiator. He always remembered, while sitting on many of the committees, that he was representing the industry, not just Stettler auction mart. He always made sure to remember the point of view of both the producer and market operator when at the table.

He was appointed to the LMAC board of directors by the Alberta Auction Markets Association. By the time his term was completed, he had gained the trust and respect of the LMAC board members and was asked to run for LMAC President. Jim was LMAC President from 2010 to 2013, and when his two-year term came to an end, there were some unfinished projects. The LMAC board of directors asked Jim to stay on as President for an extra year to help complete those projects. In true Jim Abel fashion, Jim agreed, always willing to help improve the industry and LMAC.

Jim was selected by LMAC to participate in an LMAC delegation that went to Australia to view firsthand the Australian traceability system. Traceability in Canada was a “hot topic” at the time. LMAC was required to submit a list of candidates to CFIA for approval, and only industry leaders were selected for the trip. Jim was selected for his experience and willingness to voice his true opinion of what he saw in Australia, and whether the system would work in Canada.

Back home, Jim worked with other members of the LMAC delegation on a presentation to the Canadian government and CFIA that showed that the Australian system would not work in Canada. The message from the delegation was firm. No cookie-cutter edition of any existing system would work.

Canada would have to develop a Made in Canada solution. The results of this delegation put individual animal scanning at the auctions on pause.

Jim was a strong promoter of the auction industry and was always looking at ways to improve the business and stay ahead of the competition while maintaining the strong relationships built over the years with the Stettler customers. This led to the introduction of the “Stettler-type” presort sales, where the cattle were pre-weighed, put back on feed and water and sold the next day. The Stettler market was the first to offer this service, which was very popular with producers. This Stettler system was the early version of the ‘show sales” of today.

Under Jim’s guidance, Stettler Auction Mart was the first in the area to offer in-house video sales, giving producers the chance to use price discovery by auction before the cattle left the farm. This platform gave his regular order buyers the same chance to purchase the cattle without the feedlots by-passing their regular Stettler buyers. When customers inquired about the electronic sales, Jim signed on as a listing agent for TEAM, working to serve his customers and maintaining the working relationship directly with his customer base. Jim was a firm believer in strong customer service.

Jim and Greg were both very active in the community, supporting 4-H, youth clubs and various community events.

The respect that Jim Abel gained in the cattle marketing industry is evident by his nomination by both Alberta and Manitoba. His contributions to both LMAC and industry are notable. Jim was very passionate about the auction market industry and could on occasion get a bit fired up. Jim knows the industry from bottom to top, he was a hands on, shit on his boots, kind of guy who got things done.

Even though Jim sold the auction market, he still helps the Rairdan family and looks after his customers. When asked about his time at the auction market, Jim said, “There is no place I would rather be.”

Co-nominated by Alberta Auction Markets Association and the Manitoba Livestock Marketing Association.