Announcing the Beef Researcher Mentorship Program Participants for 2024-25

This post was revised in September 2024 to reflect the voluntary withdrawal of a mentee from the 2024-25 program due to extenuating circumstances.

Researchers are critical for the Canadian beef cattle industry. Engaging industry leaders with researchers who study cattle, beef, genetics, feed or forage production is mutually beneficial. These connections allow researchers to become better informed about industry needs and encourage the sharing of research findings with a practical, solution-based focus.  

The BCRC is pleased to announce the following participants in the 2024-25 Beef Researcher Mentorship Program:

Mentee: Dr. Katie Waine

Mentors: Dr. Steve Hendrick and Shylo Penrod

Dr. Katie Waine grew up in southern England where her family raised dairy-beef calves. She became interested in ruminant disease and surveillance after seeing the impact the BSE crisis and the 2001 Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak had on the industry. She graduated as a veterinarian from the University of Bristol and spent five years working in clinical veterinary practice. She then completed a Ph.D. in evidence-based veterinary medicine at the University of Nottingham, followed by a three-year farm animal pathology training and master of veterinary medicine program. In addition, she became a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Pathologists in 2020. Dr. Waine remained at the university where she set up a new farm animal pathology service, including securing a government tender for surveillance cases. She then spent time working in a private diagnostic laboratory alongside a large team of experienced farm animal pathologists. In 2023, Dr. Waine moved to Canada and currently works as an assistant professor in veterinary pathology at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Diagnostic Services Unit. She also continues to report farm animal cases for a private diagnostic laboratory. Her research interests include bovine respiratory disease and infectious diseases. 

Dr. Steve Hendrick was raised on a cow-calf and feedlot operation in southwestern Ontario. He received doctor of veterinary medicine and doctor of veterinary science (in epidemiology) degrees from the Ontario Veterinary College. After spending nine years in Saskatoon at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, he left academia and became a partner at Cattle Health Management (CHM) near Lethbridge, AB. As of April, 2024, CHM has become part of Telus Agriculture and Consumer Goods, providing veterinary, research and consulting services to cattle clients across Western Canada and abroad. 

Shylo Penrod grew up in Strathmore, AB and has always been interested in agriculture. He graduated from Carleton University in Ottawa with a BA Honors in Political Science in 1996. He has been involved in the beef industry for 25 years, with 20 years in the feeding industry. He has been the manager of Rimrock Feeders in High River since 2019. Shylo’s interest in the beef industry is focused on the use of technology and using data effectively to make decisions. He has seen tremendous gains in production and efficiency during his time in cattle feeding. He believes it is important for the long-term success of the sector to continue to improve and focus on sustainable production that is socially acceptable and economically viable. Shylo and his family live near Claresholm, AB. He enjoys helping the next generation of agricultural leaders develop.  He devotes time to being the Beef Leader with the Claresholm Beef 4H club and has been a mentor previously with the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) program.   

Mentee: Dr. Simon Lafontaine 

Mentors: Leah Rodvang and Fawn Jackson

Dr. Simon Lafontaine‘s roots in agriculture run deep. Growing up on a cow-calf operation in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region in Québec, he developed a keen awareness of the unique challenges faced by local farmers. His passion for agriculture and environmental sustainability stems from these formative experiences. While pursuing his master’s and Ph.D. in animal sciences at Université Laval, and specializing in assisted reproduction technology and bovine epigenetics, Dr. Lafontaine co-founded Écoboeuf. This initiative focuses on developing practical, sustainable farming methods tailored to the realities of boreal agriculture, with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality. By actively engaging with every aspect of the industry, Écoboeuf not only supports the ecological transition in agriculture but also promotes environmentally enhanced beef products. Recently, Dr. Lafontaine joined the team at the Unité de Recherche et de Développement en Agroalimentaire en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (URDAAT) of Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT) as a professor specializing in eco-responsible beef production. His research aims to understand how agroecological practices and epigenetic factors impact the long-term sustainability of beef enterprises. Dr. Lafontaine is dedicated to bridging the gap between academic research and practical farming solutions. His approach emphasizes both scientific inquiry and on-farm experiments, with a focus on fostering environmentally friendly practices that benefit both farmers and the planet. 

Leah Rodvang grew up on a family-owned and operated cow-calf ranch in east central Alberta. Leah pursued a bachelor of science in agriculture at the University of Alberta, where she majored in pasture and range Management. To gain an understanding of other production practices and environmental considerations, Leah worked on a sheep and beef farm in New Zealand after university. As the research technician at Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives, Leah worked with scientists and extension staff to manage and report on projects, collect data and manage cattle health and grazing. From 2022-23 she served as the Manitoba representative on the Canadian Cattle Youth Council. Leah works with the Beef Cattle Research Council as interim operations manager, where she supports the development and implementation of the BCRC’s business planning, budget processes, project management and financial and results reporting. Leah also ranches with her parents east of Coronation, AB.

Fawn Jackson is a leading voice in Canadian agriculture with a particular focus on sustainable agriculture systems. Fawn recently joined Dairy Farmers of Canada as the chief sustainability officer, where she leads the animal health, research, animal production and sustainability teams. Previously, she was director of policy and international relations with the Canadian Cattle Association. Fawn was the founding executive director of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. Key CRSB accomplishments during Fawn’s tenure included the development of the Certified Sustainable Beef Program, the first sustainable beef certification program in the world, and leading the industry’s first sustainability strategy and assessment. Fawn also helped establish one of Canada’s leading youth agriculture mentorship programs and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Foundation that is dedicated to research, youth and the environment. Fawn completed her undergraduate degree in natural resource and agricultural economics at the University of Alberta and a master of international agriculture degree from Oklahoma State University. Fawn is a board member with Ducks Unlimited Canada and 4-H Canada. Fawn grew up on a grain and purebred cattle farm in Manitoba and now resides in Chelsea, Québec, with her family.  

Mentee: Dr. Dinesh Dardawal

Mentor: Lance Leachman and TBD

Dr. Dinesh Dadarwal is a clinical researcher who completed his undergraduate and master’s veterinary programs (theriogenology) in India. Afterward, Dr. Dadarwal was a faculty member at the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in northern India, providing theriogenology clinical services for livestock and companion animals. He also led a team of clinicians to set up a cattle embryo transfer and IVF facility. Additionally, he conducted field-based research with a focus on managing infertility and anestrus in cattle and water buffalo affected by poor nutritional status and heat stress. His interest in cattle reproduction led him to pursue a Ph.D., followed by post-doctoral clinical training in food animal reproduction at the University of Saskatchewan. Since 2017, Dr. Dadarwal has been a proud member of the Large Animal Clinical Sciences department at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and is a diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists. At WCVM, he teaches farm animal reproduction, cow palpation and ultrasonography, obstetrics and male breeding soundness evaluation to third-year DVM students. He is actively involved in fourth-year clinical rotations (large animal imaging, neonatal management and bovine field service) and graduate teaching. He provides primary and referral clinical services for clients and field veterinarians regarding theriogenology cases (mainly cattle but some for small ruminants and camelids). Dr. Dadarwal’s research encompasses estrus synchronization, egg quality, uterine health and immunity, breeding strategies for heifers and cattle, and prenatal fetal testing in cattle. 

Lance Leachman is the current operator of his family’s ranch, Big Gully Farms, alongside his wife and mother in the Maidstone, SK, area where they raise registered Hereford cattle. Lance was raised at the present location and continues as the fourth generation to operate the herd and the third generation to breed Hereford cattle. Both sets of his grandparents founded Hereford operations: the Leachman and Oddan families. Lance participated in 4-H and the Canadian Junior Hereford Association growing up. From 2003-2005, he attended Dodge City Community College in Dodge City, Kansas, to compete on the Livestock Judging Team and earn an Associate of Arts in Agriculture Transfer. From there, he transferred to Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, to compete on the Livestock Judging Team and received a bachelor of science degree in animal sciences and industry. From 2007 to 2010, he attended Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, and obtained a master of science degree in animal breeding and genetics, while coaching the judging team. 

Mentee: Dr. Vanessa Cowen 

Mentors: Shelby Corey and Jenifer Heyden  

Dr. Vanessa Cowan is an assistant professor of veterinary toxicology in the Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. A lifelong resident of Saskatoon, SK, she attended the University of Saskatchewan, where she completed her bachelor of science (honours) degree in 2014 and a Ph.D. degree in toxicology in 2020. Her Ph.D. research focused on the effects of ergot alkaloid mycotoxin exposure in beef cows and bulls. In 2023, Dr. Cowan graduated from the doctor of veterinary medicine program at the WCVM, and she joined its faculty in July 2024. 

Shelby Corey and her family raise commercial cattle on their ranch southwest of Saskatoon, as well as in southern Alberta. Having grown up raising both purebred and commercial cattle, it was a natural fit for Shelby to attend the University of Saskatchewan, where she completed a bachelor of science degree in agribusiness. Shelby currently sits on the board of directors for the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association and Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan. She has previously sat on her municipal council and brings experience working in both the not-for-profit and corporate sectors, with a passion for community involvement and, of course, the agriculture industry. She is looking forward to participating in the BCRC mentorship program, helping to connect researchers and producers to build a stronger beef industry, together.  

Jenifer Heyden grew up on a mixed farm in the Battle River Valley near Donalda, AB. She obtained a bachelor of science degree in agriculture and a master of science degree in beef cattle genomics from the University of Alberta. Jenifer has been involved in extension for over 20 years. She started her career with Battle River Research Group, an applied agricultural research association near Forestburg, AB. Jenifer was a forage and livestock agronomist involved in small plot research, extension of research results as well as coordinating and hosting producer events. Some of her fondest memories and greatest accomplishments in Alberta are being part of organizing and hosting the Western Canadian Grazing Conference and the Feed and Fodder Conference. She joined the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture in 2009 as the livestock and feed extension specialist in North Battleford. Jenifer is a source of information for producers and the agriculture industry on livestock nutrition, livestock utilization of feed and forage resources, livestock production and management. She also has a keen interest in poisonous plants.

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• Steve Hendrick Ph.D.