Governance Structure

ABP is structured to ensure the democratic representation of all producers, to encourage direct feedback from the grassroots, and to ensure that the organization is consistently revitalized with fresh ideas and representatives.

Provincial legislation outlines the ABP’s basic structure, objectives and powers and provides for a check-off on all cattle marketed in order to finance its activities. All cattle producers in Alberta who have paid a check-off in the previous 24 months are considered members and are eligible to vote.

The province is divided into nine zones and producers in each zone elect seven zone delegates. Four delegates and then three delegates are elected in each zone in alternate years. Thirteen cattle feeder council delegates are also elected. Each zone elects one cattle feeder council delegate except zones one and three who elect two cattle feeder council delegates and zone two who elects three cattle feeder council delegates. Zones one, two and three elect additional cattle feeder council delegates due to the concentration of feeding operations in those zones.

Four producer association delegates are also elected by their sponsoring organizations and have the same obligations and privileges as zone delegates. Association representation is as follows: Alberta Milk Producers, two delegates and Feeder Associations of Alberta, two delegates.

All delegates are elected for a two-year period. Producers can only serve for three consecutive two-year terms before they must step aside and allow other interested cattle producers to become involved.

The zone delegates annually elect one of their group to be zone director and to sit on the ABP board. In addition to the nine zone directors, there are five directors-at-large elected from the delegate body at the Annual General Meeting and three cattle feeder council directors elected by the Cattle Feeder Council. The ABP past chairman also sits on the ABP board for the first year after their term expires. The full board of directors then elect a chairman, vice-chairman and finance chairman. Should a zone director be elected as chairman, another delegate from that zone becomes the zone director.

The board of directors plus zone delegates form the official voting body at the Annual General Meeting. This voting body sets policy and can raise or lower the check-off.

Delegates are appointed or elected to serve on any of 6 committees and councils: Promotion, Audit, Cattle Feeder Council, Cattle Industry Council, Communications, Environment, Cow Calf Council, Governance and Research.