StettlerLocal.com March 31, 2022 @ 5:00pm
1953 was a year that saw many iconic buildings go up in Stettler. Downtown, the Federal building that would house the post office and RCMP station was under construction, while across the street, George Annable was building the Jewel Theatre. That spring, on the northeast edge of town, the Stettler Auction Mart was also being constructed.
The Stettler Auction Mart had its first sale on Wednesday, August 19, 1953. Stettler Mayor Stan Petherbridge acted as the Master of Ceremonies, starting the day by introducing Stettler Constituency MLA Jack Clark. Mr. Clark spoke on the importance of auction marts to the communities they served. Next, owners Ace Pratt and Charlie McKay gave brief addresses before starting the sale where Mayor Petherbridge sold the first item (a nanny goat) to Mr. Harry Lynn for $8.95.
Free coffee and donuts were served to the estimated 47 guests who attended the opening and first sale, which ran until 6:30 pm that day.
By 1963, the Stettler Auction Mart was notable for a gross of approximately $6,000,000 annually and an average of 1,500 animals pushed through per sale day. In addition, the Stettler Auction Mart was a reputed source of quality short-grass livestock, which brought buyers from as far away as the US and Ontario. Sources credit the Stettler Auction mart as a catalyst to the growth of a large hog production operation with branches in Castor and Stettler, which was practically non-existent prior to the opening of the auction mart. Also worth noting is that by 1963, the Stettler Auction Mart could handle the same volume as Sim’s Auction Mart in Red Deer.
Thomas Asa Edgar “Ace” Pratt passed away in 1975, but his partner and friend Charlie McKay continued to build the Auction Mart they had started together. After McKay’s passing in 1984, his sons-in-law, Jim Abel and Greg Hayden, took over the business. Abel and Hayden continued to operate the Stettler Auction Mart until they sold it to Gary and Leigh Rairdan in 2016. Jim Abel continues to work at the Mart.
The Rairdans have continued to maintain the Stettler Auction Mart’s stellar reputation. Much like the previous operators, the Rairdans have been able to adopt new technology and adapt to the changing landscape of the Ag industry. They have added an Ag Supply shop to the building and utilize an online auction feature that helps those from far away benefit from the quality livestock and fair pricing that has helped make the Stettler business the success it is today.
Carson Ellis, Local Historian
Our Town Stettler