On the advice of Aaron Sapiro, a California lawyer they created a non-share, non-profit organization responsible solely for selling wheat for the best advantage.

It was set up as a one-man, one-vote organization, with a 5-year contract required to deliver 100% of his commercial wheat to the Pool.

Other elevator owners quickly agreed to accept Pool wheat when they realized the pricing power the farmers had created.

The pool then sold the grain, and if there was a surplus in the account at the end of the year, it was distributed to its members at a pro-rated basis.

They had to use the services of the Winnipeg Grain Exchange, despite objections from the farmers, in order to reduce risk which would in turn satisfy the banks that financed the venture.

In 1928 the combined Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba Wheat Pools were among the biggest business concerns in Canada with a cash turnover of $323 million.

Fearing market collusion to lower prices, the Pool began to buy wheat futures – 3 million imperial bushels (110,000 m3) worth.

The first was profitable, but in 1930 (in part due to the stock market collapse in 1929) there were major losses when wheat prices fell under $0.20.

This was short lived when, in 1938, the world harvest was good and prices fell again to 60¢, creating huge losses.

Alberta Wheat pool continued to thrive and established itself as a world grain trader, supplier of crop input supplies and began to diversify.