Charlie Gracey died in Ontario in late May at age 88. He left a vast legacy to Canada’s beef industry.

Charlie was inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2001. After graduating from the Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph in 1959, followed by experience at the Kemptville Agricultural School, Eastern Breeders Inc., and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Charlie went on to work for provincial and national organizations, his citation read. He spent 20 years (1970-1990) as general manager and executive vice-president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.

Charlie also served for several years on the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, where “he heard and adjudicated international trade disputes, appeals from decisions rendered under the Customs and Excise Act, and complaints related to government procurements and other matters of a quasi-judicial nature,” said his Hall of Fame citation.

It noted that his legacy began when, “as secretary-manager of the Ontario Beef Improvement Association, Charlie promoted performance testing for beef cattle and lobbied hard for legislation to provide a check-off on cattle marketing in Ontario. This provided a model for similar check-offs in other provinces, which in turn created adequate funding for a national cattlemen’s association.”

In a tribute to Charlie, the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) said, “he will be remembered for playing a leading role in developing a new grading system in 1972 and addressing animal health issues, including the eradication of Brucellosis. Charlie was the original proponent and architect of standardized procedures in packing plants. He was also active in the areas of tax policy for farmers, capital gains rollover provisions, tax deferral on forced livestock sales, and the like.

“Charlie led the movement to privatize Canada’s beef grading system. The Canadian Beef Grading Agency (CBGA) was established in 1995, and Charlie served as the founding president.”

The CCA went on to say, “Charlie was also active in the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA). Charlie spoke with passion and commitment to beef producers across the country in support of CCIA at a time in the history of the beef industry of unprecedented animal health issues.

“Charlie also had the vision for Canfax. Canfax is a division of the Canadian Cattle Association. Canfax has been providing expert analysis of markets and trends in the ever-changing North American beef industry for over 50 years. Charlie’s publication The Cattle Cycle is still a must-read for all and is available at Canfax.

“Charlie was a great mentor to many of us and helped establish CCA as a leading voice in Canadian agriculture. His leadership and impact endure.”

Charlie is survived by his wife Donna (nОe Luce); his sister Evelyn O’Leary (Bev); brothers David (Coline) and Donald (Nancy); his children Laurel, Patrick (Barbara), Darren (Anna), and Matthew (Jennifer); and grandchildren Peter, Noah, Catherine (Aaron), Madison, Fiona, and Alec. He was predeceased by his parents Edith (nОe Down) and Garfield; siblings Imogene (Art), Helen, George (Sandra), and Cecil (Valerie). His family will hold a celebration of life this summer.

The staff at Atlantic Beef & Sheep and its readership enjoyed the ideas, opinions, advice, and humour Charlie provided in his “State of the Industry” column. He was a very intelligent, trustworthy, humble, fair, generous, and kind man.

As the CCA said, the closing lines of his obituary were fitting to those who knew him. “Though his heart failed him, it never failed us. In lieu of flowers, support your local butcher.”

Thanks for everything, Charlie. We will all miss you!