Alberta Farmers' Co-operative Elevator Company

Alberta Farmers Cooperative Elevator company elevator, Viking, Alberta 1913

Alberta Farmers' Co-operative Elevator Company (AFCEC) was a pivotal organization in the agricultural history of Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1913, the AFCEC was established by local farmers with the aim of providing a collective bargaining power against the traditional grain companies that dominated the market. This co-operative movement was part of a broader wave of agricultural co-operatives that emerged across North America in the early 20th century, aiming to improve the economic conditions of farmers through collective action.

History

The inception of the Alberta Farmers' Co-operative Elevator Company marked a significant shift in the grain industry in Alberta. Prior to its establishment, farmers were often at the mercy of large grain companies for the sale and transport of their produce. The AFCEC sought to change this dynamic by offering farmers better prices for their grains, more control over the sale process, and a share in the profits of the enterprise.

In its early years, the AFCEC focused on building a network of grain elevators across Alberta. These grain elevators were crucial for the storage and shipment of grain to markets. By 1920, the company had constructed dozens of elevators, significantly improving the infrastructure for grain storage and distribution in the province.

The success of the AFCEC did not go unnoticed, and it played a role in inspiring the formation of other farmer-owned co-operative ventures in Alberta and beyond. Its model of a farmer-owned and controlled enterprise provided a blueprint for the agricultural co-operative movement in Canada.

Merger and Legacy

The Alberta Farmers' Co-operative Elevator Company continued to grow and expand its operations throughout the 1920s. However, the economic challenges of the 1930s, including the Great Depression, put financial strain on the organization. In 1930, in a move to consolidate resources and strengthen the position of farmer-owned enterprises in the grain industry, the AFCEC merged with the United Grain Growers (UGG), another major player in the Canadian grain industry. This merger marked the end of the AFCEC as an independent entity, but its legacy lived on through the continued operations of the UGG.

The impact of the Alberta Farmers' Co-operative Elevator Company on the agricultural landscape of Alberta was profound. It demonstrated the power of collective action among farmers and set a precedent for the establishment of other co-operative ventures. The AFCEC's efforts in building a network of grain elevators not only improved the economic conditions for farmers but also contributed to the development of Alberta's agricultural infrastructure.

See Also

• Agriculture in Canada
• Co-operative
• Grain trade
• History of Alberta

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