Hundreds of vendors, delegates and producers have gathered at the Cambridge Red Deer Hotel and Conference Centre over the past three days to network and learn more about industry challenges and trends at the 2020 Alberta Beef Industry Conference. (rdnewsNOW/Sheldon Spackman)

By Sheldon Spackman

Industry Networking

Alberta Beef Industry Conference wraps up in Red Deer

Mar 6, 2020 | 3:53 PM

Hundreds of vendors and producers from across western Canada and beyond are wrapping up a three-day opportunity in Red Deer to network and learn more about the latest advances in the beef industry.

Friday is the final day of the Alberta Beef Industry Conference at the Cambridge Red Deer Hotel and Conference Centre.

Event Manager Jennifer Brunette says the objective was to have common ground for producers to come together and meet to discuss industry issues and make plans for the future.

““This is our 17^th annual and we have a full house – over 650 delegates in attendance,” she shared. “They come from all over Alberta, as well as B.C., Saskatchewan, and some people in from Manitoba, even Quebec, and we have a couple of delegates registered from Argentina and the U.S., so it’s fairly large in scope.”

Brunette says the event has seen some great energy over the past few days.

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“People have a lot to talk about and they seem optimistic,” she explains. “They’re constantly facing challenges, but they tackle it with a positive attitude for sure.”

Brunette hopes those who attend the conference take away a different way of thinking or learn more about strategies on how to be more competitive or productive.

“This year, we were heavy on mindset,” she explains. “We had a geopolitical strategist in, so just thinking about how we’re trading, Canada’s position on the global stage. Basically just want to give them food for thought and re-energize and keep them positive in what they’re doing.”

The Alberta Beef Industry Conference features numerous keynote speakers discussing a wide range of topics.

They include forces of change, world protein markets, how the coming skills revolution can transform agriculture, a 2020-2021 weather forecast, markets update and what lies ahead for Alberta, Canada and the world.