The Carstairs and District Agricultural Society is turning 50 this year, and the milestone will be front and centre during the 39th annual Beef and Barley Days festival from July 17 to 19. The volunteer-run group, which was founded in 1976, has spent five decades bringing people together through events that celebrate the town’s farming roots and community spirit.
This year’s festival carries the theme “Salute to Agriculture,” with a parade organized by the Carstairs Lions Club that will honour the farmers, ranchers, and producers who keep food on local tables. The three-day celebration includes a junior rodeo hosted by the Crooked Horn Canadian Junior Rodeo Association, slo-pitch tournaments, the Barley Brewfest (ticketed), fireworks sponsored by the Town of Carstairs, kids’ activities, and a community parade. A pancake breakfast will be co-hosted by the Carstairs and Community Chamber of Commerce. Most events are free to attend.
The society operates out of the Carstairs Curling Club at 315 Veterans Way and manages the rodeo grounds at 1251 10th Avenue. Beyond Beef and Barley Days, it runs events throughout the year including Gymkhana rides, Aggie Days Mountainview — a collaborative event with the agricultural societies of Cremona and Didsbury and supported by Mountain View County — the Scarecrow Trail, and Arbor Day activities. The group’s mission is to improve agriculture and quality of life through programs, services, and facilities that reflect the needs of the community.
For those who cannot attend the summer festival, a Harvestfest Dinner is set for November 7, 2026, offering another chance to mark the 50-year milestone. The evening will feature a meal and a look back at the society’s impact since its founding.
Carstairs, a town of nearly 5,000 people located north of Calgary, has deep agricultural roots. The area once held seven grain elevators that stood as symbols of wheat and canola farming. While those elevators are now gone, the society keeps that legacy alive by adapting its events to modern tastes while staying true to the land that built the community.
