Results Driven Agriculture Research has announced the members of its 2026-27 Board of Directors. (Image Credit: Results Driven Agriculture Research)

By David Opinko

Southern Albertans named to Ag Research board

Jan 23, 2026 | 9:51 AM

A provincial agricultural research group has announced its 2026-27 Board of Directors.

Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) says in a news release, “This year’s Board brings together primary producers, ranchers, agronomists, researchers, and experienced agrifood business leaders to guide RDAR’s mandate and ensure producer‑led, results‑driven research reaches those who need it most: Alberta’s farmers and ranchers.”

Many of the members are active farmers and ranchers from across Alberta, representing a wide range of commodities and production systems, including dryland and irrigated crops, livestock, dairy, poultry, and mixed farming.

Three people from southern Alberta are part of the 11-member board.

Kelly Barany of Taber is an owner and financial controller at Chin Ridge Seeds, an agribusiness that manufactures birdseed for the Canadian marketplace and for farmers.

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She has a Bachelor of Commerce (finance major) from the University of Calgary, and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

Baranay also has a Select Seed Grower designation – Canadian Seed Growers’ Association, is a Grader & Operator for a Canadian Bulk Seed Facility –Seeds Canada, and received the Bill Witbeck Outstanding Service Award in 2025 from the Alberta BC Seed Growers for valuable service in pedigreed seed production.

Brian Brewin is a third-generation farmer from the Taber area, and his family has run the farm for over 110 years.

He has been a board member and chair of the Alberta Irrigation Council since 2013, and has been a part of numerous other agricultural and regional economic boards in the Taber area.

Brewin has also served as the District One Director for the Rural Municipalities of Alberta.

Fred Lozeman is a farmer and cattle rancher from the Claresholm area.

He has served as Director for Alberta Beef Producers (ABP), Chair for the ABP Research Committee, and Council Member of the Beef Cattle Research Council.

Lozeman has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of Alberta, as well as a Doctorate in biochemistry from Oxford University.

The full list of RDAD board members is:

Primary Producers and Agronomists

• Kelly Barany, BComm, CPA, CMA — Seed grower, Taber
• Roger Barron, RT (Ag), CCA — Agronomist, Spruce Grove
• Brian Brewin — Irrigated crops farmer, Taber
• JP Brouwer, B.Comm — Dairy producer, Ponoka
• D’Arcy Hilgartner, BSc — Grains, pulses, and oilseeds farmer, Camrose
• Steven Kenyon — Rancher, Busby
• Fred Lozeman, DPhil — Beef and mixed‑farming producer, Claresholm
• Josie Van Lent, BScAgr — Beef and bison rancher and crops farmer, Vermilion
• Anke Wierenga, BSc, MSc – Poultry agribusiness, Olds

Directors with Global Agrifood and Marketing Expertise

• Ted Bilyea, BA, MA — International marketing and agrifood strategy
• Jeffery Kroll — Marketing and value-chain development

D’Arcy Gilgartner, the incoming board chair, says it is priviledge to be in this position.

“Our Board reflects the breadth and depth of Alberta agriculture, and we are united in our commitment to ensuring producers have access to the research and innovation they need to stay competitive,” says Hilgartner. “RDAR’s producer‑driven model keeps our decisions grounded in real on‑farm priorities, and I look forward to working with this talented group to guide investments that deliver meaningful, measurable results for agriculture across the province.”

You can learn more about the members of the RDAR Board of Directors here.