Dennis Laycraft

Dennis Laycraft was raised on a cattle ranch in southern Alberta and studied livestock production. From 1981 to 1990, he was employed by the Alberta Cattle Commission and served as Manager for six years. During this time, Mr. Laycraft was actively involved in the development of new markets for beef, new product development activities, and domestic promotion programs and was instrumental in the establishment of the Canada Beef Export Federation. He served as its first Executive Officer. He also served as Chairman of the Alberta Cattle Commission/Alberta Agriculture Joint Market Development and Market Promotion committee from 1984 to 1990.

In June of 1990, Mr. Laycraft was employed by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association as General Manager and in 1992 was promoted to Executive Vice President. With the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, he has been instrumental in beef grading revisions and new technologies.

Mr. Laycraft has served in advisory roles including as: Chairman of the Regulations and Standards working group on the Agri-Food Competitiveness Task Force; member of the Agri-Food Competitiveness Council; advisor to Canada’s Auditor General’s department on a number of food inspection and research matters; and as board member of the George Morris Centre.

---