RDAR (Results Driven Agriculture Research) has announced the appointment of Jeff Kroll, a food-industry leader and former senior vice-president and chief of staff at McDonald’s Canada, to its board of directors as a special appointee for a one-year term.
Kroll’s 40-year-plus career at McDonald’s Canada includes leadership of the company’s multi-billion-dollar supply chain, oversight of relationships with Canadian processors and ingredient suppliers and working in food safety, distribution, risk management and sustainability. Kroll’s work has also focused on traceability and consumer trust, collaborating with ranchers and processors to strengthen the integrity of the “farm-to-burger” supply chain. While at McDonald’s Canada, the company trialled Canada’s verified sustainable beef pilot — facilitating third-party assessments and driving progress toward national standards. McDonald’s became one of the first in the country to serve CRSB-certified sustainable Canadian beef, and now sources at least 30 per cent of the beef for its quarter pounder from CRSB-certified producers.
Canadian Cattle Young Leaders
Cache Schiller.
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Cache Schiller grew up on his family’s mixed commercial cattle operation in Flatbush, Alta. Being heavily involved in agriculture and cattle throughout his life led him to pursue his education at the University of Saskatchewan, graduating with a bachelor of science in animal bioscience in 2025. He also completed training in bovine embryo transplant at the International Embryo Technology School, which shows his passion for developing quality cattle through his focus on genetic selection and reproductive technologies. He continues to be involved in the family farm and has recently added a purebred Simmental division. Schiller’s mentors are Lance and Shari Leachman, who reside at Big Gully Farm just north of Maidstone, Sask., where they focus on advanced genetics and agribusiness.
Caylene Manning.
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Caylene Manning is a registered dietitian based in Halifax, N.S. She is also involved in her family’s mixed vegetable and beef farm in the Annapolis Valley. Growing up surrounded by locally grown food sparked her interest in the realm of food and human nutrition. She completed her bachelor of science in applied human nutrition at Mount Saint Vincent University. She has worked in a variety of settings, including acute care, long-term care, executive wellness counselling and community nutrition programming. Manning is passionate about helping the public navigate the over-complicated world of health and nutrition and is keen to help the public in choosing local, Canadian foods from both a nutritional and environmental perspective. Her mentor is Karine Rekunyk, director of health and nutrition at Canada Beef and a registered dietitian located in the Toronto area.
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SCA strategic review
The Saskatchewan Cattle Association has undertaken a strategic review to ensure that the organization’s efforts clearly align with the priorities and needs of Saskatchewan’s cattle producers. This measured approach will examine the value of SCA activities and position the organization to be more intentionally forward-facing.
As part of this review and transition, Janice Bruynooghe and Sandy Russell of Spring Creek Land and Cattle Consulting have stepped in as acting interim CEOs effective February 1, 2026.
Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef
At the 2025 Canadian Agri-food Marketers Alliance Best of CAMA Awards, the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) earned recognition in two categories. It received a certificate of merit in the digital or print execution series category for the Confessions of a Canadian Beef Farmer campaign, developed in partnership with Canada Beef and the Canadian Cattle Association’s Public and Stakeholder Engagement Program, and drawing on data from the National Beef Sustainability Assessment. The CRSB was also a finalist for its updated “CRSB Certified” brand identity.
The Public and Stakeholder Engagement Program’s Home on the Range documentary won in the non-traditional video category and took Best of Show. The program also received a certificate of merit for its Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) profiling series. Beef Farmers of Ontario was a finalist in the event category for its Queen’s Park Barbecue.
Young Creators Contest
Alberta Beef Producers has announced the winners of its Young Creators Contest, highlighting creativity, storytelling and positive messages about cattle and the beef industry.
The first-place award in the ages 19–23 category went to Annika Mouly, a teacher in Altario, Alta., for her multimedia submission, “One Cow: How land, learning and community grow together.”
Mouly’s presentation tells the story of an agriculture education program at Altario School that helps students gain hands-on experience caring for cattle and learning about food production. The project began with a simple idea — raising a steer at the school — but quickly grew into a broader learning program supported by the local community.
Alberta Beef Producers received a number of creative submissions from younger participants across Alberta classrooms. Among the K–12 entries, the Grade 5–8 category winner was Ellen Visko.
Her drawing stood out for its strong systems thinking and clear portrayal of the many roles cattle play in agriculture. The piece highlighted how cattle contribute to food production, land stewardship and a wide range of everyday products.
Overall, winners were recognized across categories, including Kindergarten and under, Grades 1 to 4, Grades 5 to 8, Grades 9 to 12, and ages 19 to 23.