The Stratton Sales yard was built in 1960 by local farmers and volunteers. It was ideally situated at 97 Sale Barn Road in Stratton adjacent to the Canadian National Railway line. This was the established transportation mode for shipping cattle from the district for a number of years until replaced by ground transportation. Initial marketing through the sales yard was done in the fall. Local livestock haulers were utilized for necessary shipping during the remainder of the year. Current practices established for a number of years include a sale in the spring and three or more additional fall sales. Cattle are purchased by buyers from both eastern and western Canada as well as local producers. Approximately five thousand cattle are marketed through the sales yard annually. Cattle not sold through the Stratton Sales Yard are shipped and sold outside the area.
We re-modeled and built a new Sales Barn and penning in 2021
The Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association (RRCA) is representative of this district through its membership in The Beef Farmers of Ontario. RRCA is unique in the province due to its ownership and operation of a sales yard. Not only does the Sales Yard provide marketing opportunities but also employs a large number of occasional personnel, which amounts to $70,000 in wages. Gross sales through the facility range from three to eight million dollars annually. Revenue generated through sales commission is returned to property maintenance and local agricultural education and promotion RRCA is governed by a Board of Directors elected from its membership. The association relies upon a strong volunteer network for all aspects of its operation. Its main goals have always remained supporting agriculture in the district.
The Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association (RRCA) is an Ontario Corporation, #000106518, without share capital, operating in the District of Rainy River. It was incorporated May 10, 1960 to promote and encourage the breeding and raising of cattle, conduct the sale of cattle, establish a sales center and conduct such other business relative to cattle and other animals as may be beneficial to the business of the members of the Association. Members of the association are determined by payment of annual dues. A Board of Directors is elected from the membership and governs the operation.
The original Board of Directors was composed of the following 15 community members:
Don B. Cupp Wallace Nelson Hughes Allan Archibald Reid
Donald Smith Daniel Rankin Clarke Benjamin Arthur Robinson
Frank Advent William Bidwell Lowe Hess Lockhart Anderson
Elder Jack Carman Isaiah Haw John Frederick Trenchard
Einar Gustav Larson Clifford Douglas Crawford Clarence Howell Engebreteen
RRCA is a member of Beef Farmer's of Ontario and Canadian Cattlemen's Associations.
RRCA serves to promote economic agricultural operations through marketing opportunities and education. It provides occasional employment for a number of individuals through the operation of a community livestock sales yard located in Stratton, Ontario. Livestock sales are held four to five days annually for this purpose.
The Rainy River District is the largest agricultural region in Northwestern Ontario, primarily consisting of beef farms. The area has a cattle herd of approximately 20,000 head. Approximately 200 producers contribute to this industry. The majority of beef cattle raised in the district are sold out of the region as yearlings and calves. Opportunity also exists for producers to market beef through the local abattoir, established in 2010.
